Partnerships

Banner-Regulatory Partnership Program : National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners - USAID

Photo - mac-main.jpg - President Slave Ivanovski (left) and Commissioner David Coen (right) accepting commemorative partnership program plaques from NARUC's Executive Director Charles Gray during the USAID Partnership Summit, Washington, DC, October 8, 2006

President Slave Ivanovski (left) and Commissioner David Coen (right) accepting commemorative partnership program plaques from NARUC's Executive Director Charles Gray during the USAID Partnership Summit, Washington, DC, October 8, 2006

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners would like to announce officially the conclusion of the ERC/Republic of Macedonia - VT PSB/Vermont Public Service Board Energy Regulatory Partnership Program. At the same time, we would like to thank the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Representative Office in Skopje for cooperation and funding of this project.

Within the framework of the NARUC Partnerships Program, which is designed as a vehicle for exchange of information and improving regulatory practices, the Energy Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Macedonia and the Vermont Public Service Board commenced an energy regulatory partnership with an introductory activity in March 2004.

During the first exchange in Skopje, the Macedonian regulators, the Vermont representatives, and the NARUC delegation discussed the broad fundamentals and practices of regulation, and a co-operative work plan was prepared for subsequent exchanges which have initiated fruitful collaboration between both agencies. Four more exchanges followed in the course of three years (2004-2006) during which both sides explored topics such as tariff design and rate setting; regional markets and cross-border trade; energy efficiency; service quality; customer protection and low-income programs; licensing and monitoring, and others.

Both agencies were honored for their commitment and outstanding performance in the regional energy regulatory program during the USAID Partnership Summit, October 8, 2006, in Washington, DC. Several top management officials in Macedonia and Vermont have seen the bilateral program evolve into many sustainable regulatory relationships and personal friendships.

For more information about this partnership, please contact:

Martina Schwartz
Manager, International Programs
tel: 202-898-2448
fax: 202-384-1555
email: mschwartz@naruc.org
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
http://www.naruc.org