July 22 was the due date for power transmission services payment for TNS Energo Penza, LLC acting as the Provider of Last Resort (POLR) in the Penza region for the amount of 386 million rubles. However, currently TNS Energo Penza, LLC made its late payment to Penzaenergo, a branch of IDGC of Volga, PJSC only for the amount of 146.6 million rubles (or 38%).

Such a situation with violation of the contractual terms and volumes of payment for the rendered services is notoriously permanent. The POLR continues accumulating debt not providing any constructive suggestions regarding payment within the terms provided by the agreement and the legislation of the Russian Federation. The power grid company renders its services in full. It is proven by failure-free power supply for customers of the Penza region. However, TNS Energo Penza, LLC demonstrates its complete irresponsibility towards IDGC of Volga, PJSC and its own consumers. Activities on debt collection are under special control in Penzaenergo. The successful and complete implementation of repair and investment programs, and thus, the reliability of power supply to consumers of the Penza region directly depends on elimination of indebtedness. Constant failures to meet the payment time constraints of sales companies throughout 2016 complicate the dutiful fulfillment of own obligations by IDGC of Volga, PJSC to the adjacent grid operators, contractors, and budgets of different levels. However, Penzaenergo branch constantly fulfills its liabilities in full, including those towards territorial grid operators.

The irresponsible attitude of electric power consumers (whether it is a legal body or an individual) towards the compliance with payment discipline poses a threat to the autumn and winter season of 2016–2017, as related to repair and reconstruction of equipment, upgrading and construction of electric power facilities. Therefore, the main task now for all participants of the energy market in the region is to prevent the deterioration of payment discipline and formation of multi-million debts.