KRASNOYARSK, April 26 - RAPSI. The Krasnoyarsk Territorial Commercial Court has postponed until May 29 its hearing of the Siberian Interregional Distribution Network Company's lawsuit against the region's finance ministry to recover $160 million in damages from the regional budget.

Speaking with the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinewes.com) a source said the delay results from the court's intention to involve the territorial government as a third party. The court has also turned down the plaintiff's request to make the Krasnoyarsk legislative assembly another party to the proceedings.

The statement of claim was filed on February 9. The grid company seeks compensation for the losses inflicted by a regulation setting a uniform tariff for power transmission in Krasnoyarsk Territory for 2011.

The Krasnoyarsk Territorial Commercial Court held that the 2011 tariff was invalid on December 29. The company's 2011 losses from the tariff setting amounted to 4.6 billion rubles ($160 million).

The Siberian Interregional Distribution Network Company transmits and distributes electrical power, servicing an area of 1.856 million square kilometers.