Moscow, 1 September. Tbilisi-based electricity distribution company Telasi* and RAO "UES of Russia" have solved the problem of electricity supply from the Unified Energy System of Russia. This made it possible to stabilize electricity supply to Tbilisi during the peak load hours. The emergency shutdown of Inguri HPP and the restrictions of power supply imposed by the Georgian Wholesale Electricity Market** in respect of Tbilisi have led to the power outage in the Georgian capital on 31 August this year.

According to Telasi officials, despite the accident at the power plant, the power outage in Tbilisi could have been avoided, but for the restrictions imposed by the Georgian Wholesale Electricity Market**. The point is that the Georgian Wholesale Electricity Market has set limits on power supply only for Telasi, whereas other less creditworthy wholesale market consumers are supplied with electricity in excess of the stated capacity limits. In this connection, Telasi executives demanded that the management of Georgian Electricity Market comply with the Law of Georgia "On Electricity and Natural Gas" No. 816 of 27 June 1997, specifically the provision on equality of market participants and equal conditions for capacity allocation.

Telasi management emphasized that they considered the power supply restrictions imposed by the Georgian Electricity Market unjustified, and that they will do everything possible to normalize power supply to Tbilisi, especially during the peak load hours (morning and evening). Telasi submitted an official petition to the management of the Georgian Wholesale Electricity Market demanding to provide guarantees of electricity supply to Tbilisi.

According to RAO "UES of Russia", the reasons behind the increase in the number of accidents at power facilities in the Republic of Georgia after the Russian energy company announced the assets purchase of some energy companies from AES are not so much technological as political.

RAO "UES of Russia" intends to oversee determination of the reasons why Telasi's subsidiary is subjected to discrimination on Georgia's wholesale market.