U.S. Energy Association, American Electric Power Sign Memorandum of Understanding With Hrvatska Elektroprivreda

  HEP Director Ivan Mravak (right) and Gene Fominykh, USEA Assistant Program Director, sign memorandum of understanding at Croatian Embassy

Washington, D.C., April 22, 2005 – The United States Energy Association (USEA) has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), whereby USEA has agreed to organize and implement the Partnership Program. The Partnership Program recognizes the mutual interest between U.S. and overseas electric power utilities, in the exchange of information and experience. The Partnership Program is designed to transfer experience and information from U.S. utilities to overseas utilities in an effective and efficient manner, and to foster long-term sustainable relationships between the partners. This exchange of information and expertise is expected to result in substantial benefits to the U.S. and overseas Partners. The U.S. and overseas Partners will cooperate directly with each other through the Partnership Program which provides for exchanges, forums, workshops, seminars, and the like.

The American Electric Power (AEP), and the Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP) have agreed to participate as partners in the Partnership Program. The partnership will involve all aspects of operation of the electric power sector of both countries.

Four parties will play a role in this program. They include USEA, AEP, HEP, and USAID. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) expresses the USEA invitation to AEP, and HEP to participate in the USAID/USEA Partnership Program. This MOU and the attachment also illustrate and outline the respective roles of the four parties in this partnership. The precise manner of participation in the Partnership Program will be specified by the parties as the program progresses. However, USEA will assist AEP and HEP to cooperate with each other through participation in seminars, visits and exchanges.

AEP and HEP for their part, will provide personnel resources, expertise, pertinent written materials and facilities as necessary to be an effective partner.