USAID Energy Program Training Plan

The program focuses on promoting the development of competitive energy markets, increasing market integration, and gradual regulatory approximation towards key elements of the Energy Community Treaty (EnCT). This commitment to the EnCT was signed by Georgia in October 2016, signaling the country's intention to direct future energy planning and market development towards approximation with the European Union (EU). The USAID Energy Program will build the capacity of the Government of Georgia (GoG) and relevant institutions to evaluate the fiscal and long-term security impacts of regulatory changes, promote energy investment, primarily in Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) development. The program will provide assistance to local institutions to perform technical and other types of analyses and will provide adequate trainings to counterparts. A major part of the technical assistance to the sector is capacity building within Task 2 of the Program, covering the topics in the other four Program tasks. The program's activities will focus on supporting the development of competitive energy markets that promote renewable energy development and the improvement of energy security. The USAID Energy Program will be involved in the full cycle of planning, implementation, and evaluation of study tours and joint Working Groups (WGs) to achieve planned results. Close collaboration with stakeholders during the planning process is essential to evaluate their needs and estimate possible outcomes from study tours or joint WGs. The program plans to carry out 4 international Study Tours and support joint WGs with Armenia and Turkish energy stakeholders. The training plan includes various capacity-building events, such as workshops and training sessions, to be provided by the USAID Energy Program during the second program year. These events aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of mid-level professionals in the energy sector, particularly in areas such as electricity and gas markets transition plans, vulnerable consumers, and supplier of last resort (SoLR) tariff methodology. The USAID Energy Program's training plan includes the following key activities: - Electricity and Gas Markets Transition Plans: A joint workshop on vulnerable consumers, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia (MoESD) and the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoLHSA), to identify the state policy on vulnerable consumers, including gender impact. - Bilateral Over-the-Counter Energy (Electricity and Gas) Trading Training: A 3-day training event to acquaint mid-level professionals with the workings of day-to-day buying and selling of gas and electricity in Georgia. - Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) Tariff Methodology: A workshop to train participants from MoESD and the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) on the aspects of methodology for calculation of electricity selling tariffs from the SoLR. - Universal Service Supplier (USS) Tariff Methodology: A training session to train GNERC on principles of the methodology for calculation of electricity supply tariffs from the USS. - Market Operator Service Tariff Methodology: A training session to provide knowledge and understanding of the methodology for calculation of tariffs from the Electricity Market Operator. - Third Party Open Access: A training session to provide technical assistance to Georgian institutions to understand and implement in practice the third-party open access as a crucial element of organization of access to the energy infrastructure system. The USAID Energy Program's training plan aims to enhance the capacity of the Government of Georgia and relevant institutions to develop and implement effective energy policies and regulations, promoting the development of competitive energy markets and increasing market integration.