Main Principles of Electrical Network Expansion in a Market Environment of Russia

A long-term period of planning the expansion of the Unified Energy System of the USSR resulted in formation of certain principles for electrical network expansion. In a market environment, however, these principles call for essential updating. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of how the requirements for expansion of the main electrical network and development of new technologies for power production, transmission and consumption affect the principles of the main electrical network formation. The main points of these principles are formulated. The structure of electrical network expansion planning problems is discussed.