Main Areas of Integrated Communications

CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS

Internal Communications

The Company continues to operate and improve its system of internal communications, and ensures that employees are informed in a timely and unbiased manner about issues related to activities of the Company and SDCs.

LEP. Leadership. Efficiency. Professionalism

The LEP. Leadership. Efficiency. Professionalism corporate periodical, which receives a favorable reception from electric power industry professionals, tells employees about important events. In every issue, the Company management and representatives of the expert community tell the reader about the industry’s development areas, discussing subjects of interest to employees. The magazine covers the operational achievements of individual employees and provides information on sectoral and social projects implemented by the Company. This makes it possible to achieve higher information transparency and encourage personnel to put forward proposals regarding the improvement of social and occupational conditions.

Energetika Budushchego

Since 2011, the Company has published the Energetika Budushchego corporate newspaper. The newspaper’s key columns are devoted to innovative development, modernization, building up the Company’s research activities, and making young employees more interested in this area.

External Communications

The Company demonstrates its information transparency and activity by systematically disclosing qualified information about its operations through the mass media. During 2012, broke 400 news items, which were collected in a single bank of newsworthy events on the home page of the Company’s website.

Corporate Website

At present, the Company’s corporate website and the websites of IDGCs/DGCs are updated daily to reflect all significant developments at the firm. The structure of the operating entities’ websites was aligned with the structure of the Company’s corporate website, and the Parent Company’s corporate identity must be used in them. This allows both employees and outsiders visiting the Group’s websites to see continuity of information and uniformity with respect to disclosures of the Company’s activities.

The corporate website was redesigned in 2012. A package of measures (including search engine optimization and the placement of a banner of the LEP corporate magazine on Facebook) enabled a fivefold increase in the news items channeled into the online community as compared with 2011. As a result, the reporting period saw a 1.3-fold rise in the number of visitors to the Company’s corporate website: their number increased to 845,000 (compared with 649,000 in 2011). Foreign visitors (the geographical division is Russia and the rest of the world) to the whole site (not only the English version) accounted for 30%, or approximately 280,000, in 2012.

The websites of all of MRSK Holding’s operating entities include hotline numbers that can be contacted for details of process failures.

Printed and Electronic Media

The target audience of the Company’s messages via the printed media was 37 million people.

During the reporting period, the Company published more than 430 press releases about its activities and 1,100 press releases about the activities of SDCs, which served as the basis for over 31,900 publications mentioning the Company in the Russian and foreign media and specifying it as the primary source of information. The share of positive and neutral publications was 94%, showing that the Company is controlling its image.

Approximately 21,500 publications were in the nationwide printed and online media and news agencies and more than 9,800 in the regional online and printed media.

Television and Radio

In the reporting period, radio and TV broadcasters aired over 550 items mentioning the Company. In 2011, the Rossiya 24 television channel continued to air the energy-related Energetika. Obzor Otrasli program. The TV program included a total of 50 original broadcasts (more than 10.5 hours of air time with 40% of them about energy conservation). In 31 Russian regions, MRSK Holding SDCs’ public relations departments caused similar programs to be broadcast on regional TV channels. Additionally, large Russian and foreign news TV channels aired 98 items about activities of the Company and its operating entities.

Participation in Conferences and Exhibitions

In 2012, the Company’s employees attended approximately 100 conferences and exhibitions in Russia and abroad, taking an active part in their programs as speakers and audience members (compared with 80 conferences and exhibitions in 2011).

The most significant events in the reporting period were the 10th Moscow International Energy Forum, “Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century” (Manege, Moscow, April 5–7) and the 16th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (Saint Petersburg, June 21–23).

At Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century, the Company exhibited a joint stand of IDGC of Centre, IDGC of Northern Caucasus, and MOESK. The Organizing Committee awarded the Company and each member of the joint stand a certificate of honor, recognizing their display as the Best Joint Stand. At the exhibition, MRSK Holding’s stand displayed MOESK’s achievements in electricity transportation, as well as the MOESK-EV project to create a network of electric vehicle charging stations. The exhibitors presented a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car and two charging stations, to show visitors how the project was being carried out.

In addition, the Company won in the Best Corporate Stand category at the Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century exhibition. The Forum’s distinguished jury, composed of representatives of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council, the Committee on Energy of the State Duma, and leading domestic power engineering institutes, made this decision recognizing the design solution and content of MRSK Holding’s display, which demonstrated the Company’s value system and corporate culture: social responsibility, reliability, stability, customer-oriented services, leadership, efficiency, and professionalism. Employees of MOESK, Moscow; IDGC of Centre, Moscow; and IDGC of Northern Caucasus, Pyatigorsk worked as representatives at the stand. As part of the Forum and the exhibition, representatives of the operating companies conducted negotiations and held consultations with representatives of the business community and power engineering sector and their colleagues from energy companies. The representatives also presented and discussed innovative projects, smart-technology programs, and other advanced developments related to electricity distribution.

MRSK Holding’s joint delegation of 13 representatives to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum consisted of directors general, deputy directors general, and department heads. During this event, several agreements were signed.

On April 17–18the Company management participated in the VTB Capital Investment -Conference -in New York, USA.

On May 17–19, the Group’s delegation took part in the 23rd International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2012) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organized by MINDS (Malaysian Invention & Design Society), ITEX attracts inventors and their latest inventions, and innovations from universities, research institutions, individual inventors, young inventors, and corporations from Asia and Europe. Visitors to the Russian stand were shown advanced innovative developments of the Company’s operating entities that were selected at the 1st All-Russia Youth Contest of Science-Intensive Innovative Ideas and Projects, “Energy of the Future”: a quickly installed metal tower for a double-circuit power line, the distribution network concept using 6–10/0.4-kV pole-mounted transformer stations, the Gelios automated system of street (outdoor) lighting control, etc.

August 26–31, at the 44th General Session of CIGRE (Conseil international des grands réseaux électriques à haute tension), a representative of MRSK Holding made a speech on explosion-safety arcless tests of high voltage oil-filled electrical equipment.

With due consideration to the transfer of the functions of MRSK Holding’s sole executive body to FGC UES, the companies pursued a joint policy in the second half of 2012, including participation in conferences and exhibitions.

As part of the international forum held in the Palais des Congrès in Paris, France, on August 30, both companies’ representatives under the guidance of Chairman of the Management Board Oleg Budargin held several working meetings with managers of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment for electric utilities, discussing topical issues of cooperation. The negotiations focused on creating a powerful center for testing electrical equipment in Russia.

The Company management took part in the International Grid Forum UPGrid 2013 “Innovation and Progress in Grid” (Crocus Expo, Moscow, October 23–25, 2012) organized by FGC UES with support from the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.

On December 5, the Kamyshin Technological Institute hosted the International Scientific and Practical Seminar on innovations in the field of repairs to energized electricity networks. The event was organized by the Electric Power Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, MRSK Holding, the Volgograd State Technical University, and the Scientific Department for Security in the Fuel and Energy Sector of the Academy of Military Sciences. Among the participants in the seminar were representatives of energy companies from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova; technical managers of IDGC of South, IDGC of Centre, and IDGC of Siberia, and Tatarstan-based Grid Company; professors and teachers of the Volgograd State Technical University and its branch, the Kamyshin Technological Institute; and representatives of executive authorities of the town of Kamyshin.

The participants shared the experience of equipment maintenance and repairs in energized electricity distribution networks, discussed electrician personnel training with a view to reviving this type of work at a new qualitative level and introducing it extensively in activities of the Company’s operating entities and CIS energy companies.

The Company built its integrated communications in 2012 on the Concept of the Uniform Reputation Policy, which became a road map to effective interaction with executive and legislative authorities at all levels: small and medium-sized businesses; large corporations; the energy-related sector, scientists, and expert communities; the general public, young people, veterans, and environmental organizations; and religious organizations.

Principal Areas of the Communications Policy

Target-Oriented Programs

The Concept of the Uniform Reputation Policy specifies the implementation of the following target-oriented communications programs (TOCP):

• information support for the transition of interregional electricity distribution grid companies to RAB regulation
• support for listing on the London Stock Exchange
• support for the implementation of the Smart Metering project in the area serviced by Permenergo, a branch of IDGC of Urals (the construction of an integrated electricity metering system based on Smart Metering technology)
• information support for measures related to implementing projects to create integrated electricity metering systems with automated data collection at IDGC of Northern Caucasus
• prevention of injuries involving intruders at electric grid facilities of the Company’s SDCs (separately, communications support for the prevention of children’s injuries)
• information support for the construction and renewal of Olympic Games power facilities in the area serviced by Kubanenergo
• measures to improve the payment discipline of customers in the Republic of Tuva
• The Electricity Distribution Grid Sector for Environmental Protection (Let’s Conserve Forest Energy)
• communications program to fight electricity theft
• information support for the program to consolidate regional networks.

Information support for the preparation of installation of multi-tariff electricity meters in the Motovilikhinsky District of Perm helped build the image of the Company and its SDCs as Russia’s single center of responsibility for the intellectualization of electricity metering based on Smart Metering technology. The Company also helped lead public opinion in Russia towards a positive perception of the relevant requirements contained in the Federal Act On Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Enhancement and on Amendments to Certain Acts of the Russian Federation. In addition, under this TOCP, projects such as Energy Efficient School, Energy Efficient Boiler House, and Energy Efficient Hospital are carried out in many Russian regions.

Communications with Government Executive Authorities and Agencies

Overall, starting from January 2009, the Company entered into 33 cooperation agreements with constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In 2012, such agreements were signed with the heads of the following republics and regions:

• Republic of Tuva,
• Rostov Region,
• Tomsk Region.

The goal of entering into these agreements is mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at implementing the government’s policy on the management of the electricity distribution grid sector in the areas listed below:

• securing a high-quality, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity supply
• creating conditions for the provision of network connection services in the region
• building a single electric grid space in the region in order to modernize public utilities and improve the service quality of electricity networks
• facilitating the implementation of district and municipal energy conservation programs
• organizing comprehensive and efficient energy metering in dwelling and utility services, and in the state-financed sector
• supporting processes of innovative development and high-quality modernization of regional electric grid infrastructure, based on advanced technology and solutions
• using tariff regulation to shape energy efficient behavior industrial and household customers
• creating the necessary conditions for the construction, renewal, technical upgrading, and proper operation of electricity distribution grid facilities in the region

Additionally, a signing ceremony took place in Vladikavkaz on April 21, 2012, at which the Company and the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania entered into an addendum cooperation agreement to carry out measures to improve payment discipline, ensure a reliable electricity supply and to develop the local electric grid sector.

The addendum agreement deals with updated issues related to ensuring socio-economic development and energy security in North Ossetia, creating necessary conditions for the construction, renewal, technical upgrading and proper operation of electric grid facilities, and consolidating local territorial grid organizations on the base of the North Ossetia branch of IDGC of Northern Caucasus.

Communications with Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Integrated communications with small and medium-sized businesses in 2012 were target-oriented and systematic, facilitating the development of a favorable business and social environment, and the organization of MRSK Holding’s effective informational and organizational interaction with the most influential public, entrepreneurial, and non-state not-for-profit entities:

• OPORA RUSSIA All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium Business,
• Business Russia All-Russia Public Organization,
• Russian Engineering Union,
• Union of Small Cities of the Russian Federation,
• Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs,
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation,
• chambers of commerce and industry of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, etc.

In 2012, the Company’s SDCs continued work under more than 700 partnership agreements with small and medium-sized businesses. Fruitful cooperation of the Company’s SDCs and its branches with regional representative offices of OPORA RUSSIA and Business Russia contributed to a decrease in the number of complaints to government bodies against electricity distribution grid companies and to the minimization of reputation risks associated with extensive efforts to retain last mile agreements, shape tariff and balancing decisions, etc. This was possible, among other things, due to the activities of joint working groups and coordinating committees dealing with network connection, the quality of electricity distribution services provided by SDCs, energy service operations, energy audits, street lighting control, etc.

In 2012, work continued jointly with OPORA RUSSIA on the implementation of the algorithm for involving small and medium-sized businesses in the innovation activities of the Company and its SDCs. In collaboration with Business Russia, the Company formulated a distributed generation concept and formed standard approaches to implementing the Company’s business missions in energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Cooperation continued with the Power-Plant Engineering Committee of the Russian Engineering Union, aimed at interaction with the defense and energy industries and at the enhancement of competitiveness of the high-technology sector of the Russian economy.

Established on the initiative of the Company, special working groups, jointly with the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and the Union of Small Cities of the Russian Federation, continued to work out proposals to tackle the issues related to implementing the Federal Act on Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Enhancement, and on amendments to certain legislation of the Russian Federation.

Innovation Communications

In 2012, the Company was engaged in innovation communications with the following public organizations and government entities:

Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres of the Russian Presidential Council for Science, Technology and Education

councils of young scientists at the heads of 69 constituent entities of the Russian Federation

• Russian Innovator Community
• National Chamber of Innovation and Technology
• Young Innovative Russia All-Russian Public Organization, etc.

With their support, the Company organized the 1st All-Russia Youth Contest of Science-Intensive Innovative Ideas and Projects, called “Energy of the Future.” On February 8, 2012, Russian Science Day, the results were announced. The Company’s expert council selected and examined the 64 best works out of the 179 projects selected at regional level. The winners are as follows:

• in the Russia’s Future Electricity Distribution Grid Sector: an Innovation Environment and Operating Activities category, an team consisting of students and professors of the Saint Petersburg State Polytechnic University: N. Korovkin, Professor, Head of the Theory of Electrical Engineering Department (project manager); S. Krivosheev, Professor, High-Voltage Engineering Department; K. Netreba, postgraduate, Theory of Electrical Engineering Department; N. Belyaev, Y. Ivanova, M. Odintsov, V. Chudny, engineers, High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission Research Institute; S. Shishigin, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, Vologda State Technical University
• in the Future Personnel Training System for Russia’s Electricity Distribution Grid Sector category, an team consisting of young specialists of Stavropolenergo, a branch of IDGC of Northern Caucasus: P. Papirsha, Chairman of the Council of Youth, Lead Engineer of the Assembly Team; Y. Lanin, member of the Council of Youth, Head of the Technical Development Service; S. Lomonosov, member of the Council of Youth, Head of the Electric Grid Facility Management Service (project manager)
• in the Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency category, S. Nekhaev, Candidate of Science (Engineering), Head of the Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Enhancement Department, IDGC of South
• in the Security in Russia’s Electricity Distribution Grid Sector category , an author team consisting of employees of Prosoft-systemy: A. Ulyanov, Head of the Commercial Department (project manager); D. Sagalov, Senior Engineer; engineers A. Galkin and V. Cheremnykh, Candidate of Science (Physics and Mathematics)

Participants in the 1st All-Russia Youth Contest of Science-Intensive Innovative Ideas and Projects, “Energy of the Future”, showed that they had great scientific potential and vast practical experience and were ready to make a valuable contribution to the innovative development of MRSK Holding and the Russian energy industry as a whole. The contest encouraged innovation and invention at electric grid companies and energy-related departments of partner institutes, and contributed to the introduction of R&D results in activities of MRSK Holding’s operating entities. The contest program included conferences and round tables discussing the development of innovative creativity of young people in the interests of modernizing the electric grid sector. The contest also resulted in the creation of youth innovation centers in Belgorod, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Izhevsk, Samara, Stavropol, Chelyabinsk, and Yaroslavl.

Communications with the Expert Community

In 2012, the Company developed connections with specialized experts, bringing together more than 150 candidates and doctors of science in the Scientific Department for Security in the Fuel and Energy Sector in seven sections:

• Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
• Industrial Safety of Power Facilities
• Occupational Safety and Mobilization Preparation in the Fuel and Energy Sector
• Environmental Safety of the Energy Industry
• Reliability and Safety of the Electricity Supply System
• Administration of Assets and Land Resources
• Evolution of the Fuel and Energy Sector: Geopolitical, Social and Economic Factors

In the previous year, the members of the Scientific Department, 70% of whom represent IDGCs/DGCs, prepared many expert opinions, including with respect to the evaluation of projects for the 1st All-Russia Youth Contest of Science-Intensive Innovative Ideas and Projects, Energy of the Future. They also worked on over 250 applied subjects and scientific tasks in the interests of the innovative development of the electric grid sector, including as requested by the Committee on Energy of the State Duma and the Commission on Natural Monopolies of the Federation Council. The “Distributed Generation as an Element of the Smart Grid,” “Psychophysiological Support for Activities of Operational Technical and Accident Recovery Personnel of Energy Companies,” “Intellectual Networks Based on Smart Grid Technology,” “Intellectual Property Management in the Electricity Distribution Grid Sector concepts and others continued to be developed.

Communications with Environmental Organizations and Mass Campaigns

With support from WWF Russia and other environmental organizations, the Company continued its all-Russia Let’s Conserve Forest Energy environmental campaign. Unprecedented in scope, this event united hundreds of thousands of people: not only electric grid companies’ employees and their families but also representatives of partner, public, and religious organizations and regional executive and legislative authorities. Over one million trees, bushes, and seedlings planted in all 69 Russian regions where the Company operates made it possible to restore, to a large extent, the natural environment damaged by freezing rain and forest fires.

Communications with Veteran Organizations

In 2012, the Company and SDCs used a common informational algorithm for several mass campaigns, which made a considerable contribution to boosting the reputation of the Company and its SDCs as socially responsible entities:

• The Victory Banner Ceremony historical campaign, launched in the Pskov Region on May 3, which was liberated by the famous 150th Rifle Division awarded the Order of Kutuzov (2nd Class). The battle flag of this division was raised on the roof of the Reichstag building. On May 4, MRSK Holding’s delegation arrived at the village of Idritsa, Sebezh District, Pskov Region, where a local secondary school has Russia’s only museum named for the Victory Banner. At a ceremony in the museum, the heads of the Councils of Veterans and youth leaders of IDGCs/DGCs were given copies of the Victory Banner. Later, the copies were delivered for perpetual storage to 1,697 electric grid districts in all regions of MRSK Holding’s operations
• The From the Heroic Deed Homeland to the Hero’s Homeland international commemorative campaign (in total, 54 employees of electric grids received all three classes of the Order of Glory and 28 were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War)
• The contest parade, Mobilizational Potential of Distribution Grids during the Great Patriotic War
• International motor rallies devoted to the 67th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War

These events were supported by the Victory All-Russia Organizing Committee in cooperation with DOSAAF, the Coordinating Council of Veterans (55,000 veterans), and the electric grid sector’s Unified Council of Youth (65,000 people aged 35 and under). As part of these commemorative patriotic events, work continued on the improvement of more than 110 corporate museums and historical rooms of electric grid companies. The events received a widespread response from the public and support from people, which demonstrated the adherence of employees of IDGCs/DGCs to the traditions of nationhood and patriotism.

Communications with Journalists

The Company’s and SDCs’ communications with the journalist community are in accordance with the uniform procedure specified in the Procedure for Preparing, Providing, and Disseminating Information About Activities of MRSK Holding (implemented by the Company’s Order No. 488 of November 15, 2010). The Company and its SDCs establish and maintain relations with the media centers of Russian federal and regional government agencies.

In Moscow, on June 6, 2012, Russian Language Day and the birthday of Alexander Pushkin, the Company announced the results of the 3rd Electrical Grids contest to Russian journalists. The Company started to organize the contest in 2009. The Electrical Grids 2011 contestants were more than 900 journalists from Russia’s nationwide and regional printed and electronic media, radio stations, and TV channels from over 50 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, who cover the operation of the Russian electricity distribution grid sector. Overall, the contest included evaluation of approximately 1,050 works and selecting winners in nine categories.

Communications with Religious Organizations

Good partner relations between the Company and the Russian Orthodox Church contribute to strengthening spiritual and moral values of the Company’ and SDCs’ employees, successfully implementing joint projects, including projects associated with energy efficiency and energy conservation of institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Under the cooperation agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of the Company’s SDCs and their branches met with representatives of eparchies, church services were conducted, new power facilities were blessed, and priests educated churchgoers about electricity theft and non-payments. It is now traditional to hold joint patriotic, humanitarian, and charitable campaigns. Electric grid companies’ employees planted trees near Russian Orthodox Church buildings under the Let’s Conserve Forest Energy environmental project of the Company, gave New Year gifts to students of parochial schools, provided help for church shelters, and gave lessons in electrical safety at educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church. If necessary, electric grid companies issued specification documents, connected additional equipment, and provided network connection services for churches on a fee-free basis or at minimum tariffs. In addition, grid companies repaired and reconditioned churches’ power equipment and electricity networks and helped construct church buildings. In accordance with supplementary agreements with eparchies for the electricity supply to Russian Orthodox Church facilities and under the Energy Efficient Cathedral project, energy audits were conducted with respect to Russian Orthodox Church facilities, energy certificates and lists of energy efficiency improvement measures were issued, and energy-saving lamps and energy efficient heating systems were installed.

As shown by the experience of cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church in 2012, partner relations among society, the Church, and business promote the further strengthening of public morality and ethics, the preservation of traditional spiritual values, and the formation of civil accord and mutual understanding.

Communications-Based Crisis Management

In the reporting period, a provisional instruction was approved with respect to the procedure for sharing, disclosing, and disseminating information about the activities of FGC UES and its branches, the Company and its SDCs, and their branches, in crisis situations. The crisis management technique specified in the instruction, proved very effective during the accident recovery work aimed at restoring the electricity supply affected by natural phenomena.

The simultaneous response of all public relations departments—of the Company and FGC UES, of distribution and transmission grid companies, of branches and enterprises—in relation to the preparation and dissemination of crisis information made it possible to minimize the reputation risks caused by out-of-limit icing of power lines and substations in some regions in Central Russia in January–February and October–November 2012. The crisis not only failed to impair the reputation of electric grid companies but also helped boost it owing to the measures taken by the Company and SDCs to increase the emergency reserve, provide crews with special equipment and devices, and use innovative techniques for issuing prompt warnings to local residents.

One of the major achievements was the news and comment flow organized by the public relations departments of interregional distribution grid companies on a one-stop basis.

Within the Company’s Crisis Center, the Public Relations Team was formed, headed by the Director for Information Policy and Communications and including the Head of the Company’s Media Center. The inclusion of the heads of public relations divisions in the crisis centers of companies helped respond promptly to any changes in the situation during the accident recovery work and provide the general public with clear and complete information about the electric grid companies’ responses.

A general meeting of the heads of the public relations departments of distribution and transmission grid companies included training sessions that involved developing the organizational model, structure and flowchart for promptly providing the foreign and Russian public with information during a crisis.

Communications with Foreign Organizations

International communications are one of the most important areas of reputational policy, which aims at boosting the positive image of the Company and enhance its appeal for investors.

The Company continued to build up cooperation with foreign energy companies. In 2012, the key events in this area were as follows:

• On February 28, the Company and Électricité Réseau Distribution France Vostok (ERDF Vostok) (a subsidiary of France’s largest government-linked electricity distribution grid company Électricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF)) signed an agreement in Tomsk for the transfer of the functions of Tomsk Distribution Company’s sole executive body to ERDF Vostok for the period until 2015 and, possibly, 2020
• On March 21, under the cooperation agreement with Siemens, the first network connection phase was completed in Voronezh for Siemens Transformers, a manufacturer of supply transformers up to 220 kV that will be supplied to electric grid companies (investments in new production reached €50 million, and more than 400 new jobs were created for inhabitants of the Voronezh Region)
• On April 8–14, the Company and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) discussed in San Diego, California, the development of the Smart Grid pilot project and the Energy Twinning initiative based on Russian and US scientific advances in energy efficiency and energy conservation
• On May 25, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan hosted the 41st meeting of the Electric Power Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, attended by representatives of the largest energy companies in Russia and other CIS countries, including MRSK Holding. At the meeting areas of future cooperation in dealing with the topical issues of electricity industry development in the CIS were discussed
• On June 20, the General Meeting of CIRED National Committee. Electricity Distribution Grids Non-profit Partnership in Saint Petersburg admitted the Company and all of its SDCs as full members into the Liaison Committee of CIRED in the Russian Federation (headquartered in Brussels, CIRED is the largest international association uniting electric grid companies of approximately 40 countries)
• On June 21, the Company, Électricité Réseau Distribution France, ERDF-I, and Tomsk Polytechnic University signed a cooperation agreement during the 16th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
• On June 21, the Company, Russia-based Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear, and China-based China XD Electric Co., Ltd signed a tripartite cooperation agreement in Saint Petersburg
• Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the Company, the Russian-German Energy Agency (rudea), the German Energy Agency (dena), and Siemens AG continued cooperation, including in network electricity loss reduction.