More than 50 schools lose electricity in Saratov because municipal officials aren't paying their power bills

The Saratovenergo energy company has cut off the power supply to 52 different schools in the Saratov region because state officials have failed to pay their electricity bills. In early May, the company notified the administrations of 69 different schools in Saratov that their power would be disconnected as result of unpaid bills. Only 52 schools have lost electricity because Saratovenergo says it isn't cutting power to facilities hosting standardized testing for university entry.

According to the power company's press office, municipal governments in the Saratov region owe Saratovenergo 44 million rubles ($679,000) so far in 2016, in addition to 17.8 million rubles ($28,000) still unpaid from 2015.

Saratovenergo says another 50 schools could soon lose their electricity supply starting in July and August, if city officials fail to start making payments on the debt.

The energy company's representatives say they wrote letters to municipal officials throughout Saratov, threatening to shut off the electricity to schools if the debt wasn't paid off, but they say they received no response.