Russia

Russia Map

EIPP Contact: William Polen

The EIPP managed the following partnerships:

Brooklyn Union Gas – New York, NY/Vladimiroblgaz – Vladimir, Russia

Illinois Power – Decatur, IL/Nizhnovenergo – Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Questar Corporation – Salt Lake City, UT/Samaragaz – Samara, Russia

Columbia Gas Distribution – Columbus, OH/Penzagazifikatsia – Penza, Russia

National Fuel Gas – Buffalo, NY/Sibirigazservis – Novosibirsk, Russia

Brooklyn Union Gas – New York, NY/Vladimiroblgaz – Vladimir, Russia
Partnership Type: Natural Gas Distribution
1994-1998

Focus Areas:

  • Customer Service
  • Metering, Billing and Collections
  • Utility Regulation
  • Finance and Accounting

 

Results:

As a result of its partnership with Brooklyn Union, Vladimiroblgaz developed a 14 step plan to completely revise its metering, billing and collection system.; Following the development of the plan, Vladimiroblgaz installed 500 meters financed by USAID as part of a pilot project to monitor the effect of the meters on energy efficiency and revenue enhancement for the utility.

Illinois Power – Decatur, IL
Nizhnovenergo – Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Partnership Type: Electric Utility
1995 to 1999

Focus Areas:

  • Customer Service
  • Metering, Billing and Collections
  • Utility Regulation
  • Performance Benchmarking
  • Economic Development
  • Information Technology

 

Results:

As a result of including local manufacturing enterprises in the exchange visits on economic development, Nizhnovenergo worked with a former defense manufacturing plant to convert its production to electronic metering equipment, which is purchased by the utility to improve the accuracy of its metering program, reduce losses and improve efficiency

The utility partners worked extensively with the Regional Energy Commission to train its staff on rate design.; As a direct result of the partnership, the Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Energy Commission, Andrei Zadernyuk, was promoted to the Chair of the Federal Energy Commission and has been an ardent proponent of economic reform since 1997

Questar Corporation – Salt Lake City, UT/Samaragaz – Samara, Russia
Partnership Type: Natural Gas Distribution
1994 to 1998

Focus Areas:

  • Customer Service
  • Information Technology
  • Metering, Billing and Collections
  • Public Relations
  • Utility Regulation

 

Results:

To improve access by its customers to the utility, Samaragaz developed a system of customer service centers throughout its service territory modeled after those used by Questar Corporation.; Customers can request service, order repairs and pay bills at the satellite service centers.

Samaragaz developed a proprietary customer information system used to track gas consumption and customer billing as a result of a series of exchange visits with Questar corporation.

Columbia Gas Distribution – Columbus, OH/Penzagazifikatsia – Penza, Russia
Partnership Type:; Natural Gas Distribution
1994 to 1998

Focus Areas:

  • Utility Management and Restructuring
  • Customer Service
  • Information Technology
  • Accounting Conversion and Auditing
  • Utility Regulation

 

Results:

Penzagazifikatsia developed a proprietary customer information and billing system tracking gas consumption and generating an automated billing process

As a result of exchanges on metering, Penzagazifikatsia worked with oblast housing design and construction authorities to require a design modification for individual gas meters in the future construction of all new apartments in the oblast

National Fuel Gas – Buffalo, NY/Sibirigazservis – Novosibirsk, Russia
Partnership Type: Natural Gas Distribution
1994 to 1998

Focus Areas:

  • Utility Management and Restructuring
  • Customer Service
  • Energy Efficiency

 

Results:

Sibirigazservis introduced the use of “plastic pipe” as a replacement for cast iron piping.; As a result, the utility expects a significant decrease in the loss of natural gas due to corrosion.