Moscow. September 4, 2006. According to current data, the power plants of RAO UES of Russia have increased their electric power output by 5.6% YOY during January-August 2006, from 428.9 bn kWh to 453.1 bn kWh.

A vigorous growth of power consumption has been noted in Russia during the reporting period. The volume of power consumption has reached 626.2 bn kWh, which is a 4.6% increase as compared with the same period in 2005 (598.4 bn kWh). In August 2006, the power consumption in this country grew by 5.3% YOY, from 66.5 bn kWh to 70 bn kWh, taking into consideration that for the entire 2006 the power consumption rate of growth was forecasted and approved in the balance sheet by the regulators at the level of 2.05%.

The power consumption has dramatically increased this year, not only in winter during a record cold spell but also in summertime, due to the national economic growth and a high household load on the energy system.

Notwithstanding that the power plants of RAO UES of Russia increased their output in August by 4.7% and generated 11.1 bn kWh, their total power generation during January-August 2006 has decreased by 3.2% and amounted to 83.5 bn kWh. This was due to the decreased water content in the reservoirs of several largest hydroelectric plants in the European part of Russia (mainly, Volga-Kama Cascade).

The thermal power plants of RAO UES of Russia have generated 369.6 bn kWh during January-August 2006, which is by 7.9% more than last year's relevant indicator. In August, they increased their power output by 5.9% and reached 39.4 bn kWh, which was accompanied by the consumption of additional fuel, basically oil fuel.