Today the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia (PSRC) and the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB, USA) signed a memorandum of understanding. Earlier, such memorandums were signed with the representatives of Washington, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

The memorandum was signed by PSRC Chairman Robert Nazaryan, IUB Chairman Robert Berntsen and Manager of International Programs at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC, USA) Chris Mahon.

The Memorandum of Understanding signing event formalizes the partnership, and as such it is an important part of the introductory four-day workshop, held from June 14-17, 2010 in Yerevan. The workshop will focus on broad fundamentals of regulation, such as authority, autonomy, accountability, structure, and capacities. Additionally, the delegates will discuss tariff design, building and sustaining relationships among sector stakeholders, public participation in the regulatory process, demand side management, and other timely issues. The partners will also prepare a fluid work plan which will identify additional topics of mutual interest, and will be updated periodically to reflect the changing environment of the energy regulation and legislation in both countries.