In Russia, testing of an innovative energy market model has begun, starting on February 1. The pilot project for creating an online platform for buying and selling electricity will operate until the end of 2027 and will cover seven regions, including Khakassia, Udmurtia, Altai Krai, and several other areas.
This new system resembles well-known marketplaces; however, access will be granted only to legal entities, excluding participation from ordinary citizens. With the help of specialized platforms, business consumers will be able to choose the most advantageous tariffs in real-time, compare offers from various suppliers, and add options for more efficient electricity use. Oversight of these platforms in the regions will be the responsibility of guaranteeing suppliers.
Although the project promises convenience and transparency, experts and consumers express concerns. The main worry is related to financial aspects. There is a possibility that the costs of developing and maintaining these IT platforms may be passed on to consumers, leading to an increase in already high tariffs. The effectiveness of the pilot project will be assessed based on the number of real transactions conducted in digital format.
