U.S. Agency for International Development to fund $3 million  Winter Heating Program in Georgia. PA Consulting Group of Washington, DC to manage the 3 month effort.

PA Consulting Group, the leading integrated management, systems and technology consulting firm, announced today that it has an agreement with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to manage the Winter Heating Assistance Project in Georgia.  The US Government, through USAID, has agreed to continue financing the Georgia Winter Heating Assistance Project, beginning in December 2000 and ending in February 2001. The program began two years ago as a humanitarian effort aimed to help elements of the vulnerable population pay their electricity bills during the harsh winter season. This year USAID has allocated $3 million dollars to help approximately 110,000 households throughout the country, internally displaced population (refugees), and institutions.

During the winter months of December, January, and February approximately 40,000 vulnerable households in Tbilisi and 70,000 vulnerable households in the regions are being given financial assistance in paying their electricity bills. The most vulnerable population primarily implies single pensioners. 

The amount of initial limits for subsidies has been established on a region-by-region basis and depends on a forecasted level of electricity supply in a particular region and on the electricity consumption during last winter. Also, availability of funds will affect the level of subsidies and the number of beneficiaries. PA staff has established that beneficiary households in Tbilisi will be entitled to an initial limit of 250 kWh of electricity monthly, and in the range between 100 and 250 kWh in the regions. The limit for the village vulnerable population nationwide is 50 kWh. The amount of credit will depend on the average electricity consumption by a control group of 20 households per region. The credit for a region will be established at the level of the regional average actual consumption, not to exceed the initially established limit.

The beneficiaries are chosen by a computer analysis based on a level of vulnerability, which ensures maximal objectiveness of the selection process. In January, PA staff will notify the beneficiaries about their participation in the program.

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