Аннотация:In the modern world, the electric power industry faces many challenges and problems, among which the improvement of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, and the reliability of energy supply are of primary importance. One of the current vectors of energy reform in many countries is its decentralisation and development of distributed, small-scale generation, which is also one of the means to solve the global challenges faced by the industry. Distributed (small-scale) energy generation has a number advantages over centralized one, and its development is one of the directions of the energy policy in many states. Energy generated by small-scale power facilities is usually used by the producers for own needs, and surplus energy is sent to the grid or sold to other consumers located nearby and connected to the distribution network.
At present, there isn't a special legal regulation of distributed energy and legal measures to support its development. To support the development of small-scale distributed energy (SDE) in Russia, it is necessary to improve a number of normative legal acts, to develop and introduce new legal mechanisms to support and stimulate development of the SDE. According to the author, it is necessary to formalize the special status of the SDE entities, and also to develop measures to support the SDE, in the first place, with regard to the sale of the "surplus" of own generation in the market. The creation of a legal mechanism that obliges the guaranteeing suppliers (energy supply organisations) to buy "surplus" electricity from the producers is of paramount importance for stimulating development of small-scale energy, especially the one based on renewable energy resources.