MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF PJSC ROSSETI SOUTH
Dear shareholders, partners and colleagues,
As we wrap up the 2023 results, it stands to mentions that the Rosseti South team managed to accomplish the goals set. Thanks to the expertise and expert skills of its employees, the Company was able to deliver the planned production programmes, achieve targets in reducing electricity losses, make new grid connections contracted, and improve the efficiency of customer service.
In 2023, there was a strong focus on arrangements designed to reduce the level of electricity losses. The economic effect of such arrangements translates into funds for maintenance and upgrade of equipment, installation of new metering devices, renovation and construction of energy facilities. The Company's consistent efforts in this area contributed to the achievement of the targets set for the level of electricity losses with significant savings of 54.6 million kWh.
Among the most effective measures to minimise electricity losses is the installation of smart electricity metering devices. In the reporting period, the Company had about 15,000 new-generation metering devices installed, which will later enable the creation of a unified automated system of fiscal and technical electricity metering.
For grid reliability and grid connection, Rosseti South allocated RUB 5.4 billion of investment funds (with 7% ahead of the annual plan). More than half of these funds were allocated for the development of infrastructure for grid connection of privileged consumers.
As of the end of 2023, the investment programme of Rosseti South yielded the commissioning of 115 MVA of capacity and the construction of 681 km of power transmission lines.
During the year, the Company satisfied about 15,000 grid connection agreements and provided almost 460 MW of capacity to new consumers. Some major new customers of Rosseti South in 2023 are the Solnechny transport and logistics centre and asphalt concrete plant in Volgograd, distribution and storage complex and sheep breeding complex, an ecotechnopark in the Rostov Region, a machine-building enterprise in the Volgograd Region, a rubber footwear parts and blanks production plant in the Astrakhan Region. The Company secured additional capacity for one of the largest textile producers in Russia, Kamyshinsky Textile in the Volgograd Region, and new agricultural enterprises in the Don. Rosseti South was actively involved in regional projects to develop infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations and street lighting systems, and provided grid connections to facilities built as part of the Education, Healthcare, Housing and other national projects.
Rosseti South spent more than RUB 2.5 billion, or 123.4% of the plan, to prepare power facilities in the regions where it operates for the autumn and winter period. As for the main works related to the repair and maintenance of power transmission lines and substations, they were over-performed in absolute terms by 15% and 16%, respectively.
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It is worth noting that the winter preparations in 2023 were challenged by the weather conditions that were among the most adverse in Russia in the last decades. There was an upsurge in weather disasters and hazardous meteorological phenomena in the regions where Rosseti South operates. The Company's personnel confronted the challenges of nature, eliminated the consequences of natural disasters, and restored power supply in the affected areas.
In December 2023, the Rostov Region experienced an unprecedented ice storm. A few centimetres thick ice deposits added the rated load on power lines and caused wire breaks and multiple fractures of poles. More than 200 crews from Rosseti South, including employees of the Rosseti Group's companies from neighbouring regions who came to help, exhibited professional heroism and restored power supply to consumers as quickly as possible in the current situation.
During 2023, the Company went on raising the reliability of electricity supply to consumers through consolidation of power grid assets. The focus of the Company's efforts was placed on transferring municipality grids under the Company's control, as well as handling ownerless power facilities. In the reporting period, as part of the consolidation programme, Rosseti South took over almost 340 km of power transmission lines and 216 transformer substations with a total capacity of 154 MVA with putting them on the books.
The Company reached the targets for the quality of its services approved by the state regulatory authorities. In 2023, the Company rendered consulting services on the operation of power grid facilities and the functioning of Rosseti South divisions: over 290,000 customer enquiries were received and processed. The number of applications for additional services increased by 50%, with more than 18,000 applications received in the reporting period. In high demand from consumers are services on grid connection, as well as diagnostics, maintenance and repair of consumer power facilities.
In pursuing sustainable development goals, the Company was committed to reducing its environmental impact, participating in energy saving and efficiency initiatives, contributing to the socio-economic development of the regions where it operates, and building reliable partnership relations with counterparties and suppliers in 2023.
I believe that in 2024 the Company will continue to grow as an efficient, customer-oriented and socially responsible company that enjoys the trust of consumers and partners and guarantees the fulfilment of all its obligations.