Penza, 26 August 2015. PenzaNews. The acting governor Ivan Belozertsev gave his evaluation of Penza city preparations for the 2015-2016 heating season during an inspection of urban amenities facilities early on Wednesday, August 26, in the wake of the first regional communal management forum. He was accompanied by the acting deputy chairman of the regional government Dmitry Semenov, the Penza city head Victor Kuvaytsev, the mayor Yuri Krivov and other officials.

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The first object in their schedule was TPP-1, where the officials were personally accompanied by Alexander Suslov, director of the Penza branch for “T Plus Penza.”

He showed the visitors the boiler-house and the turbine house with ten boilers, five turbines and offices, and also shared their plans for the future.

“This TPP is half loaded in terms of heating it can provide. Next year, we plan to connect TPP-1 and TPP-2 with a connection line to make power less expensive in summers due to heating compensation, and use more heat in winters. The object is currently cost efficient,” Alexander Suslov explained.

Ivan Belozertsev asked them about the required work hours and expenses.

“The connection line will be only 700 meters long, with small expenses of 80 million rubles,” Alexander Suslov noted.

Describing the heating season preparations to the head of the region, he noted the main issues they encountered were related to heating networks.

“Generation, production of heat poses no issues. But transporting it is a big one. […] The average life of a heating line is 24-25 years. If we take 100 km, we need to replace 4 km every year. Currently, we have 118 km of heating lines on balance – the big one. So, to double that, 12 km a year,” said the director.

In his turn, the mayor Yuri Krivov pointed out that 2015 was the first year where the company almost complied to its planned repair rates.

However, Alexander Suslov stressed that repairs of worn-out heating lines will be continued into the heating season, which is further exacerbated by the lack of repair staff due to job cuts.

“What is left to replace now is 800 meters [of heating line] per one pipe or 400 meters per the line. Three areas in Penza are left, including Tsiolkovskovo and Chkalova streets,” he clarified.

According to Alexander Suslov, the lack of natural gas supply due to the poor throughput of the distribution facility may become a big issue for the company this winter.

“The TPP may take only 100,000 cubic meters of gas, tops. […] To keep the heat up in winter, we have to make up for the lack, ignite it with the crude. This way, all economics breaks down. […] However, experience shows 120 [thousand cubic meters of gas] is way too much even in splitting freeze,” he explained.

Dmitry Semenov announced that the gas distribution facility managed by the Nizhny Novgorod region company “Volgotransgaz” has been included in the 2017 reconstruction schedule.

After that, the officials visited the turbogenerators control point.

The last four years were completely turbine accident free during winter, Alexander Suslov said.

“The equipment diagnostics is very strong now, which expands its use term – both for turbines and boilers,” he explained.

In conclusion of the visit, Ivan Belozertsev pointed out he personally witnessed the readiness of TPP-1 to heating generation and supply.

“The summer season objectives have been completed. There are questions on big lines they have on balance, but they do the repairs. As of the turbines, the readiness, the gas and crude reserves, all in check,” he concluded.

Afterwards, the delegation proceeded to Chapaeva street to visit three ten-story apartment buildings that will be used to rehouse people from emergency housing.

The acting governor praised the quality of construction and flat repair.

“The builders learned how keep up the good average quality level nowadays. […] And the supply is better,” he said, still pointing out certain issues in floor and ceiling leveling and wallpaper.

Following that, Ivan Belozertsev met the women living in the nearby three-story buildings and asked them questions about land improvement.

The women complained to him about the builders who did not clean up after finishing the construction, and made suggestions on planting trees in the yard and improving the exterior of the building.

Next, the delegation visited the “Zapadnaya” boiler room of “SKM Energoservis,” where the governor asked questions about reducing the tariffs for the Zapadnaya Polyana residents who currently pay the most for heating.

Dmitry Semenov gave his explanation on the issue.

“We plan to replace this tariff in the future with direct growth investments, reducing growth speed through new consumers, or directing the difference towards reconstruction,” he said.

In his turn, Ivan Belozertsev pointed out that the equipment wear directly influences the tariff.

“The heat production expenses are very great here, and the tariffs are high, and the citizens have all the grounds to complain to us. We need to improve this boiler room to reduce the expenses and make it more effective,” he said.

Following that, the delegation visited the repair site of the heating line managed by “SKM Energoservis” located by Mira street, 48.

The acting Penza region governor urged to observe deadlines with the greatest quality and improve the area after the works by repairing the sidewalks and planting the green line.

The last point on their schedule was the central apartment building heating node of “Penzastroy-servis” located on Voroshilova street.

According to the general director of the management company Yuri Tolstoukhov, all 57 buildings within the scope of the company are ready for the heating season.

“We flushed all the systems in advance. […] We do not have any debt to power providers. […] It is rather easy to achieve – you need determination and persistent work, the persistence to collect money for services and transfer it to the suppliers,” he explained.

The apartment buildings use energy saving technologies, the director stressed.

“Every flat can control its heating separately. There are outer temperature detectors, and the system automatically manages heating supply depending on it. Why? The average heating costs for these houses is 20 rubles per square meter, which is 15-20 percent lower than the city average, since we do not throw the heat away but use it effectively,” Yuri Tolstoukhov explained.

Ivan Belozertsev invited him to speak at the plenary session of the communal management forum to share the positive experience.