Is Russia's power grid crumbling?

As much as 80 percent of the hydroelectric power plants and more than 60 percent of the thermal energy facilities are in need of maintenance, Russia's Gazeta.ru reports.

In August, two water ducts collapsed at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power station in Siberia, flooding a turbine hall. A fuel tank also ruptured, sending oil into the Yenisei River. Three hydroelectric units were destroyed and seven others were damaged.

Auditors at KPMG said Russia needed at least $500 billion to repair the electric grid, though independent analysts said that sum is not enough.

Yekaterina Tripoten, an analyst at independent financial consulting company Sovlink, said it was unlikely private investments could raise the funds needed to repair and modernize Russia's dilapidated electricity infrastructure.