Gas distribution and maintenance services for gas equipment: updating the regulations based on centralization

Introduction. In 2021, as part of the implementation of the initiative of Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, amendments were made to the current legislation providing for the highest possible degree of gasification of the country, including the construction of gas networks to land plots of individuals without using the funds of these citizens, which was the beginning of reforms in the field of maintenance of gas equipment, taking into account the increase in gas consumers. In particular, the Government of the Russian Federation adopted a “roadmap” for the gasification of Russian regions, whereby the first stage should be completed in 2023 and the second stage was supposed to be implemented from 2023 to 2030. At the same time, the number of emergency incidents related to the use of gas, which have caused significant property damage, harm to health, and deaths, continues to remain at a critically high level. The analysis of the legal relations developing in the market of services under consideration indicates obvious shortcomings of the legal regulation. The purpose and objectives of the work are to: investigate the participation of a gas distribution organization in the maintenance of in-house gas equipment under the legislation amendments in this area; consider the features and problems of the legal regulation of maintenance activities; and propose recommendations for improving the legislation regarding the status of a gas distribution organization.