LEGAL REGULATION OF GASIFICATION: PROBLEMS AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Despite the intensification of legal regulation of gasification with due account for the “roadmap” - “Enhancement of Availability of Energy Infrastructure” approved by Resolution No. 1144-р of the Government of the Russian Federation dd. June 30, 2012, the energy specialists rightly distinguish the following among major problems of legal regulation of gasification: lack of clear delineation of powers of the public and the municipal authorities, inefficiency of the current model for tariff setting for gas and its transportation, lack of requirements to gasification with regard to independent gas suppliers in the current legal regulation, lack of a clear procedure upon connection to the gas distribution networks of the main subscriber, upon connection of a group of people, complicated procedure for transfer of ownerless gas distribution networks to the ownership of gas distribution organizations, inadequacy of existing legal mechanisms for attraction of private investments in construction of gas distribution networks, and many others. Legal regulation of gasification shall provide for a clear setting of rights and obligations of all parties to the public relations in the field of gas supply, and the procedure for their interaction. It refers to the gas distribution companies, the public authorities, and the consumers. Taking into account that the activities aimed at gasification are related to design and construction of the required gas distribution infrastructure with due account for the needs for gas supply in various regions of the country, one of the most important tasks of legal regulation is to determine the most efficient legal mechanisms for interaction between the gas distribution companies and the relevant constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The importance of gasification for operation of the domestic gas market causes the need for formation of a clear system of legal regulation of public relations in the field of gasification.