Ranges of Cost-effectiveness of Alternative Energy Carriers for Heating Residential Buildings and Social Facilities

The energy system of the Irkutsk region has been characterized by excess electricity for many years, since it encompasses several large-scale hydropower and co-generation power plants, and a developed electrical network operating at various voltage levels. In the last three years, the southern part of the region has faced a shortage of electrical power, which has received significant attention and become the subject of discussion and control by federal and regional authorities. The study shows that the shortage of electrical power in the region stems not only from cryptocurrency mining but also from the rapid surge in individual housing construction with electric heating systems. This construction was not coordinated with plans for the development of electrical networks. This paper explores a potential solution to reduce the shortage of electric power by promoting the adoption of natural gas in new individual houses at average Russian prices.