Theoretical aspects of innovative development of unified heat supply organizations in the conditions of transition to a new energy system

Introduction. Heat supply, which is one of the most important areas of housing and communal services in our country, is in critical condition, as evidenced by the increase in the number of accidents on heating networks and an increase in heat loss over the past 25 years. The current situation necessitates the modernization of the sphere under consideration, which should be associated with the introduction of modern technologies and innovations in the activities of heat supply. In addition, a number of researchers note that currently there is a change in the energy system based on the partial replacement of existing energy sources towards energy-efficient devices, which, on the one hand, allow meeting growing energy needs, and, on the other hand, reduce the negative impact on the environment. Therefore, it is proposed to consider the modernization and innovative development of heat supply, including in the context of compliance with environmental safety properties. It is determined that the subject of heat supply, which should take responsibility for the implementation of the vector of its innovative development in a certain territory, should be unified heat supply organizations, fixed by legislation as a single center of responsibility, modernization and technological development of heat supply. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to consider the theoretical aspects of the innovative development of unified heat supply organizations in the conditions of transition to a new energy system. Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was the works of Russian and foreign authors on the issues of innovative development of economic systems, as well as the work of researchers proving the relationship of cyclical economic growth with innovative development. The study used methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as the method of comparative estimates. Results. The study of approaches to the innovative development of economic systems allowed us to conclude that, despite the crisis phenomena that are natural in their cyclicity, the decline in the development of these systems is overcome with greater speed in cases of innovation in the system, which, according to the author, should be reflected in practice in the mo­dernization of heat supply, in particular, through the innovative development of unified heat supply organizations. Conclusions. In the conditions of changing energy structure, the innovative development of unified heat supply organizations should be considered not only from the standpoint of increasing the efficiency of heat supply in Russia, but also from the standpoint of increasing its energy efficiency and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.