OREANDA-NEWS. According to recent updates, in the first eleven months of 2006, the power plants of RAO "UES of Russia" increased electricity generation year-on-year by 5% to 596,6 billion kWh from 626,5 billion kWh.

In January-November 2006, the country's electricity consumption grew 4,7% to 830 billion kWh from 868,6 billion kWh, and in October by 4,3% to 87,8 billion kWh from 84,2 billion kWh, which is twice the growth rate projected for the entire 2006 as approved by the regulator.

However, over the eleven months of 2006, the hydropower generation declined by 0,8% to 114.5 billion kWh. This is explained by the lower water inflow levels in the reservoirs of several large HPPs located in the European part of Russia, which were observed over the past nine months.

In the eleven months of 2006, RAO UES thermal power plants increased their generation by 6,4% to 512 billion kWh. Accordingly, the thermal power plants had to increase the volume of fuel consumed to produce electricity and heat.