MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - With European Russia in its second week of a deep freeze, energy consumption in Moscow and the adjacent regions could hit a record high of 16,200MW Monday night, power monopoly Unified Energy System said Monday.
The center set up by the electricity giant to oversee Moscow's power grid during the cold spell held a meeting Monday. It said energy consumption had remained higher than usual, even though temperatures had risen to -17°C (-1.4°F).
In a bid to ensure unrestricted heat supplies to residential buildings and social facilities in the Moscow region, the center, headed by Unified Energy System CEO Anatoly Chubais, ordered energy consumption restrictions for industrial enterprises from 8:00a.m. to 10.30p.m.
"Energy supplies to enterprises will be cut by 579MW overall," the company said.
Last week, Chubais appeared on television to call on Muscovites to cut back on the use of electric and electronic devices at home.
The freeze began early last week when air temperatures plunged to as low -34°C (-29°F) after several days of relatively mild weather, with temperatures hovering around -2°C. Weather forecasts have the frost lasting until the end of the week.
