The Federal Tariff Service will become part of the FAS. Natural monopolies will now be more difficult to lobby for the increase in tariffs for gas, electricity, transportation, but FAS is solely to create the rules and monitoring their implementation.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev proposed to optimize the structure of government, including the Federal Service for Tariff of the Federal Antimonopoly Service. “We are talking about optimizing the number of bodies that perform similar functions. Among these include the Antimonopoly Service and the Federal Tariff Service, “- said Medvedev on Wednesday at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier Tariff Service has been part of the anti-monopoly agency, and besides FAS operates successfully, Medvedev added. “FAS has a very high authority, even the authority of the world” – said Medvedev.
Lead the new structure should be the current head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service Igor Artemyev.
The Federal Tariff Service is a federal agency that regulates the activity of natural monopolies. FTS provides state regulation of prices (tariffs) in the electric power, oil and gas industry, railway and other transport, controls the cost of services at ports, airports, transport terminals, postal services.
FAS significant functional and has 12 main directions in the field of creating competition in the commodity markets, the protection of competition on the financial services of natural monopolies and advertising. In addition, the FAS Russia monitors compliance with the legislation on the contract system in the area of procurement of goods, works and services for state and municipal needs, carries out the functions of control over foreign investments in Russia.
Both supervisory authorities were set up 25 years ago, and since 2004 head of the Federal Tariff Service Sergei Novikov, FAS – Igor Artemyev.
Since the functional overlaps both departments, for example, in terms of oversight of natural monopolies and non-discriminatory access to the grid, agencies are in a state of permanent struggle for the division of spheres of influence.
In 2013, FTS attempted to take away the powers of the Federal Antimonopoly Service for Regulation of Natural Monopolies. Tariff Service has prepared amendments to the law on natural monopolies, which were taken from the FAS function of control transactions in this area. But the idea was not supported by the government.
In the build-up of its powers in the sphere of regulation of natural monopolies acted another interested Office – Ministry of Economic Development. Minister Alexei Ulyukayev also thought it appropriate to consider the possibility of creating a single regulator. But not in a format that offered the prime minister. “In this case, the regulatory functions in respect of infrastructure industries may be withdrawn from the competence of the line ministries and relevant services (FAS and FTS) and transferred to the controller above” – suggested Ulyukayev.
However, he did not propose to abolish, merge or set up new structures within the government . Ulyukayev thought it possible to create a single regulator in the form of commissions, which would coordinate the activities of natural monopolies. “It can be a commission, which largely coordinates activities currently quite mismatched,” – said Ulyukayev.
Economic Development would serve as the standard-setting organization and FTS would like normoprimenyayuschaya organization Ulyukayev added. But against such a supervising committee by a former minister of economic development and is now assistant to the president on economic issues Andrei Belousov.
«This means – to take away from the Railways Ministry of Transport,” Gazprom “in the Energy Ministry, subordinate them, probably, I do not even know who. I do not know how they will work. As long as there is an inverse trend “- quoted Belousov” Interfax “.
The idea of creating a mega-regulator, proposed today the prime minister, was first performed at the board meeting of the FAS in March last year from the mouth of first deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov. The new institute was asked to create the pattern of financial markets regulator – the Central Bank. Artemyev, of course, it was also re-subordination of FTS. Moreover, Artemyev has repeatedly stated that the natural monopolies have to do business on a general basis and does not need special overseeing them.
The association purpose – deterring unwarranted increase tariffs, says source “Gazety.Ru” familiar with the situation.
«Who tariffs of natural monopolies, and often private monopolies in the regions are not always justified, formed opaque. You must deploy the situation in the market, making prices more than adequate. Artemyev, in this sense, a professional fighter, “- says the source.
Another argument “for” – tariff service has regional representatives and can not affect the interests of business, controlled by regional leaders. FAS also has regional services. This, however, is not about to equalize the tariffs – it is necessary to take into account the specificity of each region, but the tariff policy should be unified, adds the source.
The merger of the two departments will budget savings. Finally, to solve the problem of duplication of powers of FAS and FTS, which is very inconvenient for business. Analogs of these government agencies in other countries have, adds the source.
The FAS did not offer comment on the prime minister. “After the establishment of the regulator lobbyists natural monopolies will be more difficult to penetrate their proposals to the FAS, at the service of such a reputation is not, as in the line ministries, something to push” by the rules “will not work”, – said a source in the department.
Minus one – the concentration of power in one agency. FAS and FTS competed with each other now, FAS will set the rules of the game, and monitor compliance with them.
«This is contrary to the administrative reform, which was previously held government. The combination of regulation and supervision, in principle, is unacceptable, “- said Julia Tormagova, head of commercial law firm group Vegas Lex. 
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