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In Russia, the legislative support for the construction and operation of heating systems is permanently developing and improving. The Federal law "On heat supply" adopted in 2010 is the basic and most important document that regulates the work of heating systems. Moreover, the country has more than 10 additional documents that regulate this industry, and a great number of documents that establish rules for building and operating energy systems. The paper presents the main documents that regulate the heat supply industry in the Russian Federation, and a brief description of the main stages of heating system life cycle and problems solved in each of them. Despite the national policy of energy conservation and energy efficiency enhancement, there are still problems related to heat supply management due to large extension, complexity and a variety of types and structures of the systems. The main cause of the poor heat supply efficiency in Russia is explained by a considerable change in the structure of heat loads that has occurred of late years, a decrease in the loading of the main generating equipment and heat networks, which amid other things is fostered by an increasing wear of the systems. Upgrading of generating capacities and heat networks is considered in the framework of long-term investment projects for their modernization and expansion. The obtained solutions are reflected in the Schemes of urban heat supply. This paper proposes solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of decisions made in the field of heat supply. It formulates the proposals on organization and regulation of the activities of all the participants in heat supply in the stage of long-term planning of heating system expansion, because well-founded and rational planning of construction and expansion of the systems is a basis for their efficient operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Russia's natural gas consumption in the context of stationary energy use, particularly the close linkage between electricity and heat supply. This interdependence will largely determine the prospect of domestic demand and will restrict the extent of adjustment. The author also investigates the constraints on gas production, exports, and imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]