At the end of 2019 year, an entrepreneur Sergey S. has applied to the Business Ombudsman Vladimir Golovnev of wrong actions of PAO "Moesk"s brunch MGIK" Energouchet". 

    «According to his complainant, he leases non-residential property in Podolsk urban district to a chain store. At the beginning of November 2019 the staff of this branch conducted a regular test of electricity consumption. They revealed the seal breakdown and screws inserted in a box, distorting the meter's read. 

    Following an audit, the entrepreneur is billed for over 1,7 million of rubles» - informed the details Vladimir Golovnev. 

As businessman said, the previous month data was not cross-checked, and indeed, the screws were in a box before installation and sealing. 

    Having considered the arguments, Vladimir Golovnev has addressed the case to the Moscow Region Procuracy for further inspection of the legality MGIK" Energouchet" actions taken against entrepreneur Sergey S. 

    This inspection identified violations committed by officials of MGIK" Energouchet". In particular, were identified breaches of the law relating to 442 resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation from 24.05.2012 "On the operation of electric retail market, full (or) partial limitation of electricity consumption". A few local regional regulations were breached also. 

    As a result of the inspection, the management of PAO "Moesk" MGIK" Energouchet" had obtained the proposals to eliminate violations submitted under Podolsk procuracy control.

    Such "platinum" mistakes of energy accounting could bring a businessman to bankruptcy, due to overwhelming costs for small and medium business. In fact, some entrepreneurs use illegal methods - cut into pipelines and sanitation, connect to electrical grid. 

    These entrepreneurs have never been assisted by human rights activists. But at the same time, the diligent businessmen are caught in a vicious circle of such situation.

    In some cases current legislation allows the resource supply entity to evaluate electrical charges without taking into account an actual  electricity consumption by cable sections. Consumers should be aware of non-contractial consumption and if it is legal. The non-contractial consumption shall be calculated in case of unauthorized illegal connection to the electric grid without any contract required.

    There were no any reasons of invoicing the entrepreneur from Podolsk urban district so heavily, because the electric meters operated properly. By mistake, the inspectors suspected unaccounted electric consumption because of shunted screws, that were not able to influence the meter's read, as was confirmed later "- summed up the results of the prosecution inspection  the Moscow Region Commissioner for the Protection of the Entrepreneur's Rights Vladimir Golovnev.