Change No. 1: is it possible to arrange an offline connection, bypassing SNT?
Summer residents now have the opportunity to connect to power grids directly by concluding a separate agreement with the power company.
This will allow you not to depend on other members of the SNT and not to undertake obligations to pay the debts of defaulters. In order to create an offline connection, you must:
- find out the name of the electricity supplier for the territory of a particular SNT and submit an application to them for concluding an individual electricity supply contract;
- Attach to the application confirmation of membership in SNT (certificate or gardener's book), as well as documents on the technological connection of SNT to the power grid;
- contact the network organization with a request to install an electric meter.
The Ministry of Energy reminds that from 2021, at the request of consumers, network operators are required to install individual electricity meters (letter of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation No. 09-409 dated 02/05/2021).
The ConsultantPlus system contains a form for the minutes of a meeting of the SNT board on concluding an agreement with organizations supplying heat and electricity, water, gas, drainage, landscaping and protection of gardening areas... Get free trial access to K+ and proceed to the document.
Electrification stages
After drawing up the project, the installation stage of the electrical supply system begins. Installation must be carried out in full accordance with the approved document, otherwise overvoltage in the network may occur. If all project requirements are met, a work acceptance certificate is drawn up and permission to operate electricity on the site is issued. The next step is to install seals on all elements of the system that supply voltage. After this, another act is signed.
Connecting electricity to a plot of land without buildings is possible in one of two ways:
- by laying wires underground;
- by laying the cable by air.
The second method is considered less expensive because it does not require excavation work. At the same time, this method has its drawbacks: power lines can break due to adverse weather conditions: strong wind, icing, etc.
When connecting wires to a site, experts recommend installing self-supporting insulated wires, which provide protection from damage.
Connecting electricity underground
Connecting electricity to a site without buildings using an underground method requires a significant investment of physical effort and financial resources. The advantage of this method is its reliability and security of the system, which provides protection from negative external factors.
The underground method includes the following work:
- preparing a trench with a depth of about 75 centimeters (below the soil freezing level);
- backfilling the cable with a layer of sand (about 20 centimeters);
- clearing the ditch of debris, removing sharp objects that could damage the wires.
When using this method, a wire without conductive cores is used. The most commonly used two-phase cable is rated at 220 volts. The wire is masked with a corrugated pipe, protecting it from mechanical damage.
Change No. 2: The time frame for connecting houses to power grids has been reduced
Another change was a significant reduction in the time it takes to connect citizens’ homes to power grids. If previously the connection period was up to four months, now it has been reduced to 30 working days.
This norm is enshrined in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 639 dated April 26, 2021.
However, in order to benefit from the reduced period, the following conditions must be met simultaneously:
- voltage class of electrical networks is not more than 0.4 kV;
- the distance from the networks to the boundaries of the site is no more than 15 m;
- there are no objections from the owners of neighboring plots that are located between the power lines and the applicant’s plot;
- The network organization is not required to carry out work on the construction or reconstruction of electrical networks.
Consequences of unauthorized connection of electricity
The described connection procedure, although it involves many difficulties and expenses, is the only legal one. Its violation is fraught with undesirable consequences for the owner:
- Unauthorized supply of electricity to a land plot is almost impossible to legitimize; it is easier to dismantle the extended networks and carry out the process of technological connection.
- Unauthorized connection, in accordance with the Regulations, approved. , is interpreted as “non-contractual electricity consumption”. In this case, the consumer is obliged to compensate for the damage by paying for the estimated amount of electricity used. The calculation takes into account the maximum throughput of the supply cable, multiplied by 24 hours and multiplied by the period counted from the date of the last control check, but not more than 3 years. Compensation will be equal to the cost of electricity that the offender would have consumed for 3 years if he had used electricity at the maximum capacity of the power cable around the clock.
- Unauthorized connection entails administrative liability under Art. 7.19 and for individuals is punishable by a fine of 10-15 thousand rubles. In addition, there is a practice of bringing illegal consumers to criminal liability under Art. 165, according to which violators can be fined in the amount of up to 300 thousand rubles or 2 years’ salary, or they can be subject to forced labor and other types of punishment, up to imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Given the existing risks, the cost of electrifying sites may not seem so large.
Change No. 3: The list of grounds for connecting to a preferential tariff has been expanded
We remind you that there is currently a reduced tariff for connecting to electrical networks - only 550 rubles. (Clause 17 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 861 of December 27, 2004).
In order to take advantage of the discounted rate, the following conditions must be met:
- device power consumption - no more than 15 kW;
- the distance to power lines with a voltage level of up to 20 kW is no more than 300 m (in the city) or 500 m (in the village).
From March 2021, owners of generators with a capacity of up to 15 kW can connect at a reduced rate (RF Government Decree No. 299 of 03/02/2021).
Owners of such generators submit an electronic application to the supplier and enter into an electricity purchase and sale agreement with him. The energy generated by the generator will be counted using a special bidirectional meter and will be included in mutual settlements. Please note that income from the sale by an individual of such electricity is exempt from personal income tax (clause 28.1 of article 217 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation).
alternative energy
The use of alternative power supply systems is gaining popularity. Such energy sources are relevant not only if it is impossible to provide network electricity to the site and buildings on it, but also if it is necessary to ensure the autonomy of the structure.
The most common alternative energy sources on the Russian market are:
- Solar energy. Thanks to solar panels, the sun's energy can be used not only to generate electricity, but even to supply heat. The main disadvantages are the dependence on the intensity of solar radiation, which drops significantly in the cold season and is absent at night, and, of course, the cost. A full-fledged system of 2 batteries with a total power of up to 1.25 kW costs 130 thousand rubles.
- Wind energy. The most promising, affordable and simple way to generate electricity is to use wind power. For an ordinary house, a wind generator with a capacity of 3-5 kW/h is sufficient, and their cost starts from 90 thousand rubles. The disadvantages are the high noise level of the installation and the variability of the wind, which is more than compensated by the possibility of using it at any time of the year or day.
- Geothermal energy. The most technologically sophisticated way to use alternative energy is to use steam from geothermal sources. There are 6 GeoPPs successfully operating on the territory of the Russian Federation. Since the use of such energy is associated with geographical features, its widespread production is impossible.
Results
Owners of garden plots can now enter into an autonomous power supply agreement, bypassing SNT. The time it takes to connect houses to power grids has also been reduced. Owners of autonomous low-power generators can sell the generated energy to the electricity supplier, the payment will be offset against the payment for consumption from the networks.
Find out more about the procedure for taxing income with personal income tax in our “Personal Income Tax” section.
You can find more complete information on the topic in ConsultantPlus. Free trial access to the system for 2 days.
Electrical requirements
Devices used to electrify the site must comply with safety standards.
To the counters
Technical means of electricity metering installed in summer cottages must comply with GOST 6570-96. The current strength of the meter for residential premises is 30 A, accuracy class - 2. These requirements are taken into account when purchasing the device. 50 A devices are intended for private houses and cottages. The phase pattern of the electrical network is considered an important criterion.
To the Verkhovna Rada
The device is a switchboard with a set of equipment necessary for managing electrical networks, protecting against voltage surges and increased loads. The ASU includes an input cable, emergency shutdown systems, RCD, and grounding.
Safety standards
To avoid emergency situations, it is necessary to equip the electrical network with circuit breakers and a grounding conductor.
Protective grounding
Many country houses are equipped with a 4-wire electrical network. This means that the ground and neutral cables are combined. When it breaks, voltage appears on the shield body. The machine does not turn off due to maintaining the same current strength. An additional grounding circuit eliminates such situations. To set up the system, ready-made pin modules are used. They are buried in any type of soil.
RCD
Installing the device protects people from electrical injuries and property from fire. The RCD is triggered when there is a current leak that occurs when the cable braid is damaged or the neutral wire is broken. The device is installed at the inlet. The rating of the RCD is selected taking into account the expected leakage of equipment used in the country. The resulting number is tripled. Manufacturers offer RCDs for 10, 30, 100 or 300 mA.
Automatic circuit breakers
Protective devices are used to protect network components from overload. A separate machine is installed for each group of consumers. Devices are selected taking into account the expected power. Lighting systems are supplied with separate automatic devices.
What's next
After submitting the application, 20 days later you will receive an SMS indicating that the contract has been submitted for consideration to the applicant. You need to go to your personal account again, where you will find connection documents in the “Application Fulfillment” tab and an invoice for payment for the technological connection. The payment period is only 5 calendar days. The invoice cannot be paid electronically; all details must be entered manually for payment.
After Rosseti confirms the payment, you will receive an SMS indicating that the contract has been concluded and is being executed. After this, you can begin installing the EPU on the site.
Features of self-input electricity
The responsibility of the network company is to connect the line to the site. The connection point is located at a distance of 25 m. Further input of electricity into the house is carried out by the owner. He independently chooses the method of laying the wiring: by air or in the ground. The cable must be inserted into the building by a qualified specialist.
You can order the service from a network company or a private organization. The owner of the site pays for the work. Their cost is 30-60 thousand rubles.
Problems caused by the location of a private house
Country houses are most often located outside the city. Old transmission lines are used to electrify them. They cannot withstand the high loads that occur when turning on household appliances. Voltage surges damage equipment installed at the dacha. Sensitive stabilizers and automatic devices help prevent emergency situations. The condition of the electrical network is affected by the frequency of residence in the house. In winter, moisture accumulates in an unheated room. This must be taken into account when choosing materials and devices.
