Media Coverage of the Conference: Electricity Market in BiH – Next Steps

This means that each buyer will be able to purchase electricity on the market if they find a better offer than their current one. However, for customers to be able to make this choice, the market processes and relations between all electricity sector participants must be established and clearly defined so that they are understandable by buyers. The USAID Regulatory and Energy Assistance Project (REAP) organized a conference on "Electricity Market in BiH – Next Steps" in Neum on September 23-24, 2013. The conference brought together representatives of state and entity level ministries in charge of electricity, representatives of state and entity parliaments, representatives of all stakeholders on the energy market, and international experts. The conference aimed to present the progress made in the electricity sector in BiH over the last six years and to provide recommendations for further progress. The conference highlighted the importance of creating preconditions for the electricity market opening, including the establishment of market processes and relations between all electricity sector participants. The market principle is such that any company dealing with electricity sales should be registered in BiH, and it can have its headquarters anywhere in the world. Two out of three electricity distribution companies in BiH are electricity exporters and are competitive in the market. International experts presented recommendations for further progress of the electricity market, modeled on best international practice. The conference also featured presentations from the Regulatory Commissions from Serbia and Montenegro, who shared their experiences from their respective countries in the process of market opening. A special overview on the current state in the electricity sector in BiH and the region was given by a representative of the Energy Community Secretariat of Southeast Europe. The conference was attended by representatives of various stakeholders, including state and entity level ministries, parliaments, regulatory commissions, power utilities, and independent system operators. The conference aimed to facilitate decision-making and create preconditions for the electricity market opening in BiH. The U.S. Government, primarily through USAID, has provided $1.6 billion in assistance to support economic, democratic, and social progress in BiH. The conference marked a significant step towards the opening of the electricity market in BiH, which is expected to bring benefits to customers, including the ability to choose their electricity supplier and potentially lower prices. The conference also highlighted the importance of continued investment and support for the electricity sector in BiH.