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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202000-137
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 25, 2000Contact: Jennifer Brown
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Energy Association (USEA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced the beginning of a U.S.- Zambia partnership between the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) of Zambia, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC), and the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC).
The U.S. - Zambia partnership, signed today at the USEA's office in Washington, D.C. will last for two years and involve a series of exchange visits in the U.S. (Oregon and Washington, DC) and in Zambia. The visits will focus on safeguarding the interests of the consumers, promoting competition, private investment and environmental protection.
"This partnership is an important example of how international development, protecting the environment, and growing the U.S. global economy can be mutually supportive," said USAID Administrator J. Brady Anderson.
Since 1990, USAID has provided the funding support for USEA's Energy Partnership Program. USEA established the Energy Partnership Program to develop electric utility and regulatory partnerships between developing country utilities and regulatory agencies and their U.S. counterparts. The partnerships help developing country utilities and regulatory agencies implement institutional strengthening policies, promote best practices in utility operations, and encourage private participation in the energy sector by establishing long-term cooperative relationships between the partnership participants.
USEA has established over 60 utility and regulatory partnerships worldwide, including partnerships in Africa. The partnerships facilitate both technical assistance and international bonds of friendship.
The ERB is a governmental entity vested with the responsibility of regulating the transmission and sale of electric power in Zambia, and protecting the interests of electricity consumers.
The OPUC is an agency of the State of Oregon whose primary responsibility is to ensure that customers receive adequate services at fair and reasonable rates. It regulates the customer rates and services of the state's investor-owned electric and natural gas companies, certain telephone services and water utilities.
The DCPSC serves the public interest by facilitating the transition to competitive market structures for the gas, electric, and telecommunications industries in the District of Columbia and by ensuring that financially healthy companies provide safe, reliable, and quality services at just and reasonable rates for District of Columbia residential, business, and government ratepayers.
USAID's energy programs focus on increasing the availability of energy and reducing the amount of pollution released back into the environment through energy reform. USAID helps build the capacity of local and national institutions that create, frame and regulate the energy sector by collaborating with international financial institutions, U.S. and host country agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private entities.
USAID is the U.S. Government agency responsible for worldwide humanitarian and development assistance.
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