The Nizhny Novgorod experience in optimizing connections to power grids was presented at the forum.

      July 1, 2026 15:25 Economy The Interregional Forum "Optimization of Connection Procedures to Power Grids" (18+) is taking place in Nizhny Novgorod from July 1 to 3, 2026, at the "Academy Mayak" named after A.D. Sakharov. The forum is organized by the Higher School of State Administration of RANEPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Participants include heads and employees of executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, local government bodies, representatives of development corporations, resource supply organizations, and the system-forming territorial network organization of the Nizhny Novgorod Region - the branch of PJSC "Rosseti Center and Volga Region" - "Nizhnovenegro". In June 2026, the Nizhny Novgorod Region became a leader in the "Engineering Networks and Communications" category in the ASI investment climate rating. This criterion assesses the effectiveness of procedures for connecting investors' facilities to electricity, gas, heating, water supply, and wastewater networks. Indicators such as connection time, number of procedures, cost, and entrepreneurs' satisfaction with standard administrative procedures are taken into account. "The issues of connecting investment projects to engineering infrastructure are at the center of attention for most regions of the country. This is a challenging task, and we have been striving for leadership for several years, receiving many pressing questions from businesses on this topic. Currently, the connection times to power grids in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, according to ASI, are almost 20 working days lower than the national average (the average figure for Russia is 60.41). This is the result of the entire investment team's work under the leadership of the governor, as well as the network companies that have engaged in the modernization of all processes, primarily the branch of "Nizhnovenegro". We are happy to share our developments with colleagues from other regions and also to learn from their experience," emphasized the Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Yegor Polyakov. "To achieve high results, the branch actively continues to improve the processes of technological connection. Our key goal is to prepare in advance and as efficiently as possible for future projects, fully understanding technical solutions, cost parameters, and project timelines before signing the contract. The high efficiency of this work is the result of a close fusion of the technological expertise of "Nizhnovenegro" and constructive dialogue with all key structures in the region," noted Dmitry Fedorov, director of the branch of PJSC "Rosseti Center and Volga Region" - "Nizhnovenegro". Significant changes in reducing connection times to power grids in the Nizhny Novgorod Region have been achieved due to the involvement of government agencies of the Nizhny Novgorod Region in this issue, and the inclusion of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of PJSC "Rosseti Center and Volga Region" in the interdepartmental commission for reviewing investment projects regarding technical connections to networks. This allows for the synchronization of network development plans with the needs of the region. In addition, the Corporation for Development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region closely interacts with network organizations, responsible for supporting investors in the region in a "single window" format. "According to the agreements concluded in 2023, resource supply organizations provide information upon our request about the possibility of connecting to networks, estimated costs, timelines, as well as a preliminary scheme for technological connection. At the same time, to obtain this information, the investor no longer needs to, as before, formalize rights to the land plot, which significantly speeds up the implementation process of investment projects and reduces the risks of incorrect site selection," noted Anton Garanin, Deputy General Director of the Corporation for Development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. It is worth noting that in the investment climate rating of the regions of Russia, compiled by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), the Nizhny Novgorod Region has ranked second for the third consecutive year. The rating has been formed at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2014. Starting in 2025, "Increasing Investment Activity" will be one of the federal projects of the national project "Effective and Competitive Economy". This year, the subject also entered the top three leaders in the "Real Estate" category, which assesses the speed and ease of obtaining land for construction. "We understand that the results achieved are not a reason to stop. Today we are improving the investment and construction process through a unified digital route for investors, eliminating duplication of approvals, and ensuring information exchange between all interested agencies. It is important for the investor to interact not with dozens of different structures, but with a single digital support system," summarized Arthur Batursky, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. During the forum, guests will visit the special economic zone (SEZ) "Kulibin" in Dzerzhinsk, "Nizhnovenegro", the Corporation for Development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and the Corporate University of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. This will give guests the opportunity to adopt best practices. It is worth noting that in 2022, the Nizhny Novgorod Region was among the seven pilot regions of the federal project "Cross-Cutting Investment Flow". It aims to optimize the investment cycle, reduce project implementation timelines, and improve procedures for connecting to engineering infrastructure. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.