Russia might lift customs duties on imported electric vehicles in 2013
Russia to see a development of Smart City tech
Utility fees hike across Russia.
State funding to Russia’s territories will be conditioned on power-saving programs
Russia might lift customs duties on imported electric vehicles in 2013
Russian authorities may consider dropping customs duties on imported electric vehicles (EV) next year, claimed Andrey Pankov, an official with Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TPP).
A zero duty fee may initially be introduced for a one-year period, after which, if the government decides that it’s effective and helpful to market development, the practice may be continued,” said Pankov, who is chairman of the subcommittee on strategic innovations in auto vehicles, within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The average price of an EV in Russia stands at some $55.200, which might decrease to about $43.000 after the duties are lifted, according to Pankov.
He also said that the target is – through a combination of state subsidies, talks with Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors and gradual production growth – to bring the EV price down to under $30.700. In Russian currency, this is the equivalent of a psychologically significant figure of 1 million rubles.
READ ORIGINAL STORY at SmartGrid.ru
Russia to see a development of Smart City tech
Russia’s Sirius Concern JSC has signed a memorandum on cooperation with IBM which will see the two companies join efforts in the development of centralized urban ecosystem management projects along the lines of IBM’s ”Smarter Planet – Smarter Cities” initiative.
The plan will include joint efforts in areas like security of complex municipal facilities, modeling and assembling monitoring systems for complex distributed Hi-Tech infrastructure, power-saving and power efficiency technology.
Further on, the IBM-developed solutions may be integrated with Safe City” systems offered by Sirius.
READ ORIGINAL STORY at SmartGrid.ru
Utility hike validated across Russia
On July 1, 2012, Russians started paying more for utilities.
Utility gas prices grew by 15 per cent, while electricity, heat, as well as water and sewage all grew by 6 per cent each. The gas and electricity tariffs are reported to remain at the current level through July 1, 2013.
The average rise in tariffs is meant not to go exceed an overall 12 per cent.
The planned fare hike – officially known as ‘tariff indexation’ in Russia, had been announced earlier and approved by the Government in 2011. Before, the regular date of annual tariff indexation was January 1.
READ ORIGINAL STORY at SmartGrid.ru
State funding to Russia’s territories will be conditioned on power-saving programs
Russia’s regions, many of which largely depend on extensive federal subsidies, might have to develop and produce efficient power-saving and resource-saving technologic solutions. The condition is being introduced by Russia’s Housing and Communal Reform Fund – a state-run entity with a special ‘State Corporation’ status.
Today, the Fund already has programs when federal funding is conditioned on the introduction new technology at the regional level, claims a recent press bulletin of the Fund information department.
Apparently, the plan on relocation of dwellers of dilapidated and hazardous residences also envisions active encouragement of the construction of modern power-efficient housing.
READ ORIGINAL STORY at SmartGrid.ru
