2001

US Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Winter Heating Assistance Program concludes another successful year - 05 July 2001

On June 22, PA Consulting Group, a leading international management, systems and technology consulting firm, transferred the final subsidy payment to the Georgia Wholesale Electricity Market, thus concluding this year's Georgia Winter Heating Assistance Program. This year's USAID-sponsored program provided subsidies of $5.5 million to provide funding for last winter season's electricity bills for over 210,000 vulnerable households and over 260 critically-important social institutions, such as refugee collective centers, hospitals, retirement homes and orphanages.

This is the third year of the program and this year's subsidy amounts reached the highest level ever, due in part to a contribution of $500,000 from BP.

PA is now working with each local distribution company to ensure that the customer accounts for all qualifying beneficiaries are properly credited.

PA was supported in its work by the Georgian Disabled Women's International Association (GDWIA). The GDWIA was contracted by PA to staff a dedicated information center for the program that the public could call or visit to ask questions about the program and inquire about their beneficiary status.

PA's project director Dean White said

:"The work performed by the GDWIA was excellent. They served as an important contributor to the success of this year's program"

The GDWIA president Ms. Manana Galuashvili commented:

"We very much appreciate that we were able to play a role in USAID's program. In addition to helping so many with their electricity bills, in the case of our organization this program helped to provide employment and training opportunities for a few of our disabled members."

For further information on the program and any questions about beneficiary crediting, the public is welcome to call the program's information center at 921461, 974884 or 389849.

ends

For more information, please contact:

Dean White PA Consulting Group 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20006 United States Tel: +1 213 689 1515 Fax: +1 213 689 1129 E-mail: dean.white@paconsulting.com

Notes to editors

PA Consulting Group is a leading management, systems and technology consulting firm, with a unique combination of these capabilities. Established almost 60 years ago, and operating worldwide from over 40 offices in more than 20 countries, PA draws on the knowledge and experience of some 3,700 people, whose skills span the initial generation of ideas and insights all the way through to detailed implementation.

PA builds strategies for the creation and capture of shareholder and customer value, and helps clients accelerate business growth through innovation and the application of technology. PA works with clients to improve performance, mobilize human resources and deliver change effectively, including managing major projects, and designing and implementing enterprise-wide systems and full e-business solutions.

PA focuses on creating benefits for clients rather than merely proposing them, and this focus is supported by an outstanding implementation track record in every major industry and for governments around the world. PA also develops leading-edge technology both for its clients and within its own portfolio of venture companies in areas ranging from software to wireless technology to life sciences.

PA distinguishes itself from its competitors through the range and quality of its people, the depth of its industry insight, its development and use of technology, and also its independence and culture of respect, collaboration, and flexibility in working with clients.

We are proud that our clients say, "PA makes it happen."

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