FESTI: Fuel and Energy Transparency Initiative

Sphere: 
Good Governance
Year: 
2010
Status: 
Finished
Country/ Location: 

Status

Finished

Project Period (month-year)

07/2010

Keywords

Energy Sector / Transparency Initiative/ Good Governance

Country/ Location

Kyrgyzstan

Contact person

Ms. DarikaSulaimanova

Email: darika@unison.kg

Project Summary

 

Contracting Authority

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Project Partners

  • Kyrgyz State University Architecture and Construction (KSUCTA)
  • Building Testing and Research Institute (TSUS)
  • Energy Centre Bratislava (ECB)
  • State Agency of Architecture and Construction (Gosstroy)
  • Danish National Building Research Institute (SBi)

Narrative description/ Abstract of Project Objectives

FESTI emphasizes the importance of transparency and public discussion in energy sector management and regulation; highlights the responsibility and accountability of companies’ governing bodies and addresses corrupt practices in the energy sector.

Description of services provided by Unison

Establishment of the Supervisory Board of the Fuel and Energy Sector Transparency Initiative (SB FESTI), which consisted of 8 representatives from civic organizations, 4 representatives from energy companies at the level of deputy general director and 4 representatives from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy at the level of deputy ministers and the Minister of Energy.

Outputs/Impact

FESTI’s output were i) increased public access to energy sector relevant information, ii) greater accountability and public participation; iii) improved monitoring and analysis of energy sector activities and last but not least iv) providing the grounds for a constructive dialogue between state, private sector and the public.

 

 

i) FESTI enabled greater access to energy sector information through the following activities:

  • informing the public about power blackouts and the triggers that caused them;
  • public presentations on independent audits that examined the management of six major energy companies conducted by Tetra Tech;
  • publishing data about collection of payment for electricity;
  • launching public discussion on major development projects in the energy sector (such as the «CASA 1000" project);
  • providing informational access to projects "Construction of power lines Datka-Kemin" and "Improving the power of southern Kyrgyzstan".

 

ii) FESTI enabled greater accountability and public participation through the following activities:

  • increasing public participation during energy purchases and when energy companies bid for the acquisition of material assets;
  • advocating public discussion of proposals to change the order of calculations for the heating of residential buildings (JSC “Bishkekteploset”);
  • The companies “Power plants” and “National Electrical Grid of Kyrgyzstan” opened special accounts in order to collect the payment for electricity export and frequency control in the power system of Central Asia;

 

iii) FESTI enabled greater monitoring and analysis of the energy sector through the following activities:

  • Development and establishment of transparency indicators for energy companies and state agencies;
  • Assessment and oversight of data on material assets of the energy companies;
  • Analysis of the center for quality of service of distribution companies and corporate governance with the preparation of recommendations;
  • Introduction of quarterly reporting on major industrial and financial indicators on the example of power companies Tata Power (India);
  • The FESTI Supervisory Board investigated corrupt practices by the company JSC “Severelectro” (such as postscript in billing for payment, fictitious accounts receivable, abuse of power) and results were published through mass media;

           

iv) FESTI created a constructive dialogue between the public, private sector and the government through the following activities:

  • Introduction of systematic joint sessions of Board of Directors and executive directorates of the companies with the leadership of the Ministry of energy in the presence of Supervisory Board when discussing the results of the company and the challenges it faces (JSC “Severelectro”);
  • Establishing community energy advocates in rural areas;
  • Quality centers and inspections services were established in energy distribution companies.

Project Series

 

Predecessor project

n/a

Successor Project

Enhancing Regulatory Framework for EE in Built Environment (Phase I)

FESTI: Fuel and Energy Transparency Initiative