OREANDA-NEWS. March 14, 2011. JSC RusHydro (ticker symbol: HYDR: MICEX, RTS and LSE; RSHYY: OTCQX) announces that due to an improving hydrology environment and capacity restoration at the Company's Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant (HPP) the electricity generation at RusHydro's HPPs totalled almost 5.78 TWh in January 2011, up by 880 GWh, as compared to January 2010 (+15.2%). The increase was primarily driven by capacity restoration at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, which currently has four hydro-units (640 MW each) in operation. During the first month of 2011, the power plant produced more than 1.6 TWh of electricity. 

A favorable hydrological situation in central Russia should allow the Company to increase output at its HPPs in Q2 2011 year-on-year. According to data from the Russian Meteorological Office, snow reserves in the European part of the country exceed normal levels, often by 20-50%, which indicates a high probability of high-water seasonal floods and potentially increased loads at the Company's HPPs.

According to the Company's business plan, electricity output at 9 HPPs of the Volzhsko-Kamskiy Cascade in Q2 2011 should exceed 13 TWh compared to 12.21 TWh in the same period of 2010. In addition, during Q2 2011, RusHydro's total generation should increase year-on-year on the back of Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP contribution. The production plan for April-June at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP is approximately 5.2 TWh compared to ca. 2.8 TWh in 2Q 2010.

Currently, planned preparation for the high-water period is under way at all of RusHydro's production facilities. The Company's hydropower complexes allow for passing through flood water in the normal operating mode with the given level of snow reserves.

High-water commissions have been set up at RusHydro's power plants that will perform the full range of measures to ensure safety during the high-water period.

During the spring seasonal flood, the Company will organize additional inspection of hydro-technical facilities, carry out daily control of changes in the hydro-meteorological environment and exercise daily control over water levels in the tailraces and headraces of the Company's hydropower complexes, as well as conduct around-the-clock watches by engineering and technical personnel. The Company has also organized interactions with units of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Services (EMERCOM) and other executive bodies.