Reforms of Russia's Electric Power Industry Within the Context of the Development of Energy Law

摘要

This article looks at the genesis of the power supply doctrine used as a source of energy law. It establishes that specific historical conditions and, mainly, the technology used to generate and transmit electrical power determine society's relationship to the physical form of electric power and energy services. On the basis of extensive historical material and comparative analysis, it tracks civil understanding of the legal regimens instituted for supply of electric power in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, modern Russia, and industrially developed countries. It concludes that modern technologies promote liberalization of the power industry and support creation of market competition between energy suppliers.