Beginning tomorrow, telephone subscribers will be able to find out what "per-minute billing" means for each of them. Electrosvyaz has begun issuing trial bills which are non-payable.

As of June 6, all Electrosvyaz telephone subscribers will be able to receive trial bills issued in anticipation of the per-minute billing system soon to be implemented for local telephone calls. These statements are non-payable and designed mainly to answer an important question: how much each subscriber would pay under the per-minute billing plan.

On May 1st the test period for per-minute billing of local calls got under way in Krasnoyarsk. The main objectives of the payment reform are currently:


· to complete testing in order to ascertain whether the per-minute billing system is fully prepared for technical and commercial use;
· to help subscribers become acquainted with the new billing system;

The trial period for the per-minute billing system should last at least three months.

The per-minute billing system consists of two main components: constant and variable. The constant component is the fee for around-the-clock use of telephone services, i.e. the subscriber's personal service package. The variable component is the fee which is charged depending on the duration of calls made.

As of June 6th Electrosvyaz will begin issuing trial bills under the new system for local calls. Subscribers can pick up these bills at all Electrosvyaz locations where payments are usually made. Trial bills can be requested after the monthly bill is paid. Alternatively, if advance payment has already been remitted, all the subscriber has to do is go to an Electrosvyaz customer service location and ask for a trial statement.

The bill is designed to show both constant and variables fees charged for local calls. The trial bill is non-payable and is simply intended to acquaint subscribers with the new system and help them realize what their actual consumer trends for telephone services are. It should also be noted that fixed billing remain effective during the trial period.

We therefore consider it our duty to provide subscribers with reliable and detailed information about the new local billing system. Electosvyaz staff are ready and willing to answer any questions the public may have about the new system being introduced.

Electrosvyaz is also planning to issue a statistical report within the new few days on fees payable by Krasnoyarsk residents under the new local billing system.