UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Government

Name of Ministry/Agency:

Country:	United States of America

Initiative Title:	Local Capacity Development for Better Energy Governance the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network

Internet links:	http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/casestudies/betterEnergy_usa.pdf http://energy.cenn.org/

Scope:	National: - Georgia

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Lead Institution:	Caucasus Environmental NGO Network

Stakeholders/Partners:	TELASI GNERC Energy consumers

Relevent issues:	- Capacity-building in energy policy formulation and management

Objectives/Challenges:

1) To build capacity for energy policy formulation and management; 2) To increase access to energy for the poor; and 3) To increase public participation in decision-making processes at all levels.

Lessons Learned:

Improving relations between energy companies and consumers can lead to improved energy efficiency, sector governance, and service reliability and coverage.

Policy Options:

Establish Energy Services Consumer Associations (ESCAs) with links to the utility, municipality, regulator and government.

Summary:

The project created six Energy Services Consumers Associations (ESCAs) in Tbilisi to act as a liaison between consumers and energy sector representatives. They take part in public education processes, facilitate dispute resolution in the energy sector, and advocate consumers’ rights at the grassroots level. The ESCAs have attended to requests from 1,500 families, helped over 60 families apply for state subsidies, and successfully advocated for the rehabilitation of street lighting in all districts.

Key features of programme include: consultations on energy issues with consumers, outreach to school children; publication and broad dissemination of energy educational materials.

Results achieved and known impacts were: Facilitated cancellation of 20,000 GEL debt for electricity, and restructuring of 35,000 GEL debt. Attended to requests/needs from 1,500 families; assisted over 60 families apply for state subsidies; and successfully advocated for the rehabilitation of street lighting in all districts.

Sustainability, scalability, and transferability: Fostering improved energy sector/public participation is a highly replicable approach that is relevant to most developing country contexts.