NARUC INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Committee on International Relations NARUC Summer Committee Meetings

July 20, 2008 Portland, OR

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International Team

Erin Skootsky, DirectorJim Lindley, Deputy DirectorMartina Schwartz, ManagerMatt Gardner, Program OfficerChris Mahon, Program Officer

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NARUC Commitment to USAID Programs

A very important feature of the USAID Cooperative Agreements is NARUC's in-kind skilled labor contribution of 20%. This effort constitutes the U.S. Commissioners' and State staffs' involvement in program activities. We thank our members for their voluntary contributions that ensure successful programs.

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“Eurasia 1”

Regional Energy Regulatory Program for Eastern Europe & Eurasia

• USAID Cooperative Agreement (1998 – 2008)• 23+ countries • Dual-language program: English & Russian

• ERRA• Partnerships• Sub-regional & bi-lateral activities (Azerbaijan,

Southeast Europe, Black Sea)

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Eurasia 1 (cont)

Key ERRA Activities: March – July 2008• April 23-24: 8th ERRA Annual Meeting• April 21-22: 7th ERRA Investment & Energy

Regulation Conference, Hungary• April 20: ERRA Presidium Meeting• March 17-20: Price Regulation & Tariffs

Training Course, Hungary• March 3-4: ERRA Legal Regulation Working

Group Meeting, Moldova• Jan. 14 – Mar. 14: ERRA E-learning Public

Participation Training • Website www.erranet.org

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Eurasia 1 (cont)

Key NARUC Activities: March – July 2008

• Southeast Europe Market Monitoring – quarterly reports posted at www.naruc.org/see_monitoring

• Azerbaijan Public Service Regulation Development Project – Training, July 2008

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“Eurasia 2”

Utility Regulatory Program for Central/Eastern Europe & Eurasia

• USAID Cooperative Agreement (2007 – 2010)(This agreement adds new opportunities for work in the Europe/Eurasia region as “Eurasia 1” expires in Sept. 2008 after reaching the 10-year maximum program rule in USAID.)

• Limited support to ERRA as it achieves sustainability• Bilateral & regional linkages, partnerships, market

development

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Eurasia 2 (cont)

Key Activities: March – July 2008• ERRA:

• July 14-18: Summer School: Introduction to Energy Regulation Training Course, Budapest, Hungary

• June 16-18: New Commissioner Training Course, Budapest, Hungary

• NARUC• Kosovo: “Public utility regulation in market economies”

workshop in Pristina, April 14-16, 2008. • Georgia: Georgian National Electricity and Water

Regulatory Commission (GNERC) – Initiated and implemented the inaugural partnership activity in Tbilisi, Georgia between GNEWRC and the Vermont Public Service Board, June 27 – July 3, 2008.

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GRN Program

Global Regulatory Network • USAID Cooperative Agreement (2002 –

2009)• Africa, Caribbean/Latin America, Asia• To encourage information exchange and

local capacity building for regulatory authorities and associations of regulatory authorities.• Association Development• Partnerships

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GRN Program (cont)

Key GRN Activities: March – July 2008• No-cost extension signed (project completion

September 2009)• Technical Assistance Project with Bangladesh

Energy Regulatory Commission completed and closed-out (March 2008)

• Partnerships:• Ghana • Nigeria • Nicaragua • Zambia • Jordan (pending confirmation)

• Website:www.globalregulatorynetwork.org

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NARUC/USAID Regulatory Partnership Program

Current Partnerships Status & Recent Activities• Albania – Indiana (Final activity at Pennsylvania PUC in

May 2008)• Croatia – New York – (Final exchange in June 2008)• Georgia – Vermont – (First exchange in June 2008)• Ghana – Ohio (lead state) (Apr/May 2008, Aug & Nov

TBD)• Nicaragua – Texas (February 2008, July 2008)• Nigeria – Michigan (First exchange in July 2008)• Zambia – Pennsylvania (Fall 2008 TBD)• RERA South Africa (Fall 2008 TBD)• Serbia – Pennsylvania (Second exchange in April 2008)

• Website: www.narucpartnerships.org