Russian Economic Development Ministry has clarified which supplier the customer may enter into a contract for heat supply

Russian Economic Development Ministry in a letter dated 30.09.2014 N D28i-1889 clarified:

- Service contract for the transfer of thermal energy with a single supplier (n. 1 h. 1, Art. 93 of the Federal Law of 05.04.2013 N 44-FL) may be entered into only with a natural monopoly;

- Heat supply contracts with a single supplier (n. 8 h. 1, Art. 93 of the Federal Law of 05.04.2013 N 44-FL) may be entered into with the relevant supplier of resources, which is not a natural monopoly. Such an organization may be the management company selected by the decision of the general meeting of owners of premises in an apartment house.

This difference is supposed to be associated with a different legal regulation agreement (contract) for the provision of heat transfer and the agreement (contract) for heat supply (v. Art. 15, 17 of the Federal Law of 27.07.2010 N 190-FL "About Heat Supply "). From these rules, we can conclude that the main difference between the agreement (contract) for heating is that it provides for the mandatory supply heat directly to the consumer. Agreement (contract) for the provision of heat transfer is not with the end user, and with heat supply organizations.