With the support of the United States Agency for International Development, NARUC engaged with the Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia (AERS) in a multi-faceted and innovative partnership designed to produce tangible improvements in the Serbian electricity and gas sector. Utilizing expert volunteers from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the partnership evolved from technical information sharing on cross-border issues, transmission and distribution planning, and ratemaking constructs to increasingly complex and state-of-the-art issues like smart grid deployment.

On smart grid, NARUC expert volunteers supported AERS officials in their efforts to improve the regulatory framework and operational practices around the emerging suite of technologies, with focus on classifying outages and major grid events, monitoring distribution system reliability, and the setting of benchmarks and standards.

The partnership also included an innovative project-based approach. Joint ad hoc working groups including both Serbian and American representatives collaborated to produce identified outputs.

Though the partnership has completed, Serbian regulators continue to participate in regional projects with NARUC, including those focusing on retail market development.