"There are a few adjustments to make," said Boris Medvedev, deputy head of the city's energy department. "There are no major problems, but our system is very big and it requires some repairs."
Those still shivering under double layers of clothes and blankets probably have problems with airlocks in the system, Medvedev said. In other cases, pipes have burst or distribution is hampered somewhere in the pipeline. Some people do not even have hot water.
Money for repairs is short, even shorter than last year, but Medvedev said the last heaters should bubble into action next week.
Medvedev said his 97 percent success rate was higher than in most other regions in Russia, and also higher than last year, when the cold hit earlier and his department had less time to prepare. A balmy September meant the city started pumping hot water only after October's first cold spell.
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