Planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions as a form of economic and legal responsibility in the energy sector

In the article, the current state of research on the application of planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions as a form of economic and legal responsibility is analysed in general and specifically in the energy sector. The specificity of applying this form of economic and legal responsibility in the energy sector, existing problematic issues of its application, and proposals for their resolution are investigated. The law enforcement practice of the Supreme Court, which has developed in applying this form of economic and legal responsibility, is analysed. The role of the permanent central executive body with a special status – the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities – in regulating the application of planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions to participants in the energy markets is studied. Ways to improve the regulatory framework for planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions in the energy sector are proposed, along with ways to enhance the regulatory framework to minimize similar violations by energy market participants in the future and to foster a high culture of compliance with current legislation norms. The research utilized the following materials and methods: 1) regulatory acts that define the grounds for applying such a form of economic and legal responsibility as operational-economic sanctions; 2) works by domestic and foreign authors conducting their scientific and practical research in the field of economic and legal responsibility; 3) the practice of domestic courts. During the research, methods of theoretical generalization and grouping, formalization, analysis and synthesis, and logical generalization of results (formulation of conclusions) were used. The scientific article reveals the main patterns in applying such a form of responsibility as planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions in general and in the energy sector, the grounds, and main features of applying planned and cost-accounting (evaluative) sanctions in the energy sector, and examples of applying such sanctions to business entities – participants in the energy markets.