Annual Program Performance Report

The program aimed to develop the energy regulatory authorities in Central/Eastern Europe and Eurasia, strengthening their efforts to establish a stable, efficient, and competitive energy industry. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) implemented the program, working closely with the Energy Regulatory Association (ERRA) and other regional stakeholders. Regulatory capacity and association institutional development were key components of the program. NARUC provided support to ERRA in developing its comprehensive regulatory training program. In July 2009, the ERRA Training Advisory Committee finalized the selection of two NARUC commission staff experts to serve as instructors for a joint training course on Renewable Energy Regulation. ERRA implemented its pilot training course, titled "Introduction to Gas and District Heating Regulation," in November 2008 in Budapest, Hungary. The course featured 4 days dedicated to natural gas regulation and 1 day on district heating regulation. ERRA organized several committee meetings and conferences throughout the program period. NARUC representatives participated in these events, sharing U.S. regulatory practices with ERRA members. The ERRA Tariff/Pricing and Licensing/Competition Committees met jointly in Bratislava, Slovakia, addressing topics such as creation of a regional market, significant market power, and quality regulation through pricing. The committees also held separate meetings, discussing topics like potential limitations of wind power connections and compliance control over electricity transmission license provisions. ERRA's 8th Energy Investment and Regulation Conference took place in Warsaw, Poland, on April 6-7, 2009. NARUC sent three representatives to the conference, and ERRA organized the Legal Working Group meeting in Warsaw, Poland, on February 19-20, 2009. The ERRA Head of Secretariat participated in a US Study tour in December 2008, meeting with financial representatives of NARUC and discussing ERRA's future financial, auditing, and financial reporting obligations. Under USAID/NARUC funding, ERRA Chairman Dr. Gábor Szörényi participated in the 7th EU-US Regulatory Roundtable Discussion organized by NARUC on November 13-16 in New Orleans. ERRA organized the Legal Regulation Working Group Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, on November 6-7, 2008, which was co-hosted by the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission of Bulgaria. Members discussed regulatory independence, regulatory transparency, and other issues related to energy regulation. The program's success can be attributed to the close collaboration between NARUC, ERRA, and other regional stakeholders, as well as the effective implementation of the program's activities and interventions.