Moscow, 18 April 2006. The energy companies of RAO "UES of Russia" named the winners of the All-Russian Golden Tower Awards Competition among electricity consumers. The Competition was organized with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation.

Official ceremonies were held across the country to award the laureates and winners with diplomas "Best Consumer", which were signed by Anatoly Chubais, Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia", and the CEOs of the regional energos concerned. The winners also received the Golden Power prize, which symbolizes the strong partnership in the development of the region's energy sector.

The 600-plus Awards winners and laureates had been selected from among thousands of industrial and public sector consumers, agricultural enterprises, and SMEs nationwide. Based on the results of 2005 and the autumn/winter period, several winners were named in each category, which had been best in fulfilling the terms of electricity supply contracts, complying with the energy use regimes established for them by the energy companies, implementing energy conservation technologies and advanced electricity metering systems.

In his speech to the Awards winners, Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko said that the electricity industry is one of the key sectors whose stable operation ensures successful development of Russia's entire economy. According to Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia" Anatoly Chubais, successful development of Russia's energy sector and manufacturing industry largely depends on electricity consumers, as their responsibility with regard to energy use is directly related to reliable and uninterrupted power supply in the entire region.