OREANDA-NEWS. October 28, 2008. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) received several petitions from the participants of the wholesale market of electrical energy (power), which question legitimacy of paying 5 000 000 Rubles fee for the membership in "Sovet Rynka [Market Council]" NP, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Articles 33 and 35 of the Federal law "On Electrical Power Industry" have a mandatory provision in accord to which all entities that gain the status of a participant of the wholesale market or already are participants of the wholesale market of electrical energy (power) must join "Sovet Rynka" NP.

To comply with the statutory requirements, entities on the wholesale market that are not participants of the wholesale market and members of "Sovet Rynka" NP, as well as entities that intent to gain the status of the participants of the wholesale market must join "Sovet Rynka" NP.

The fee for joining "Sovet Rynka" NP was set at the extraordinary General Meeting of the members of "ATS" NP on 17th October 2003.

The membership fee was set similarly to joining "ATS" NP, and members of "Sovet Rynka" NP did not raise the issue of differentiating the fee or decreasing (increasing) it. The Supervisory Board of "Sovet Rynka" NP did not discuss the amount of the membership fee, and the purpose of keeping the fee at the level of 2003 was not explained.

Currently FAS Russia is processing several petitions on violation of the antimonopoly legislation by "Sovet Rynka" NP by setting unreasonably high joining fee and, therefore, creating barriers for the electrical energy (power) players against entering the wholesale market of electrical energy (power).

At the same time FAS Russia plans to include the issue on changing the amount of the membership fee to the next agenda of the Supervisory Board of "Sovet Rynka" NP.