22.05.2025
Energy Club Vice President Ivan Grygoruk is participating in the competition for the position of a member of NEURC. The Selection Committee for candidates for positions of members of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC), at its meeting on May 21, determined the list of candidates admitted to participate in the competition. Among the candidates are three Energy Club Vice Presidents: Ivan Grygoruk, Valeriy Bezus, and Maksym Nemchynov.
NEURC plays a key role in shaping tariff policy, licensing the activities of market participants, and ensuring the stability and transparency of the energy and utility markets. Therefore, it is extremely important that professionals in the energy sector work within the state regulator.
Ivan Grygoruk is the Vice President of Energy Club, an honorary power engineer, with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He received higher education at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ternopil National Economic University, Ivano-Frankivsk Educational and Scientific Institute of Management, and West Ukrainian National University. Mr. Grygoruk is an energy expert with significant experience in the design, reconstruction, and new construction of electrical installations, electrical substations, and power transmission lines from 35 to 750 kV. He has experience implementing projects in Central Asia, the European Union, the USA, the UAE, and Ukraine. He deeply understands the Ukrainian energy market and actively participates in the development of legislative and regulatory documentation in the energy sector. He is an active speaker and moderator at industry events.
In an exclusive interview with Energy Club, Ivan Grygoruk outlined his vision for overcoming the main challenges facing the energy industry, his own work priorities within NEURC, the changes needed in the commission’s work and the energy industry, and how he plans to implement his own experience in realizing these plans.
– The decision to submit documents for the competition was a logical step for me, considering my more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector, – noted Ivan Grygoruk. – I always strive for the practical application of my knowledge and skills in the context of the industry’s development. In recent difficult years for the country, working at Energy Club, I have become deeply immersed in the problems and challenges facing Ukrainian energy and realized how important the effective work of the regulator is. My credo is not just to observe processes, but to actively participate in their formation, using my experience in the design, reconstruction, and construction of electrical installations, as well as my understanding of international practices. I believe that my knowledge can be useful to NEURC in making balanced and effective decisions.
I expect the competition to be as transparent and objective as possible. It is important that the selection of candidates is based solely on professional qualities, experience, and vision for the development of the industry. Currently, the process, as far as I can see, meets these criteria. I believe that such an approach will allow for the formation of a truly strong and independent NEURC, capable of effectively responding to the challenges facing Ukraine’s energy industry.
– In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing NEURC today?
– Ensuring the stability of the energy market in wartime conditions, continuing the integration of the Ukrainian energy system into the European one, attracting investments for the restoration, construction, and modernization of energy infrastructure, as well as protecting consumer rights. My role in overcoming these challenges lies in implementing innovative regulatory approaches that will not only stabilize the situation but also create a foundation for further sustainable development. I see myself as a member of a team that will work on implementing best global practices and creating transparent and predictable rules of the game for all market participants.
– Name three main priorities that you have identified for yourself as a member of NEURC if you win the competition?
– First and foremost – creating a favorable investment climate and attracting capital to the energy sector. This is critically important for the recovery and modernization of the industry. I would focus on developing transparent and predictable regulatory mechanisms that reduce risks for investors. The second priority – harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with European legislation and integrating into the European energy market. This is not just a requirement of our time, but also a strategic necessity for ensuring Ukraine’s energy security. My experience in implementing projects in the European Union will be very relevant here. And the third area – increasing the efficiency and reliability of the energy infrastructure. This includes modernizing grids, implementing modern technologies, as well as stimulating the development of distributed generation and energy conservation.
– Presumably, you already have plans for applying your own experience to realize these directions?
– My experience in the design, reconstruction, and construction of electrical installations, as well as my understanding of the technical aspects of the energy system’s operation, allows me to find optimal solutions. I will be able to objectively assess the technical and economic feasibility of proposed projects and regulatory initiatives. And my knowledge of legislative and regulatory documentation will help me to effectively participate in the development of new rules and their implementation.
– Mr. Ivan, what specific changes are you striving for?
– In tariff setting – towards the implementation of methodologies that will stimulate investment in modernization and efficiency improvement, while ensuring social justice. In licensing, I would like to see even greater transparency and simplification of procedures to reduce administrative pressure on business. Regarding market regulation, it is important to ensure their transparency, competitiveness, and non-discriminatory access for all participants.
– How do you assess the current state of Ukraine’s energy industry?
– Ukraine’s energy industry is going through extremely difficult times due to the full-scale aggression. However, I see enormous potential for its recovery and sustainable development, especially in the context of EU integration. NEURC plays a key role in shaping policies that will not only stabilize the system but also make it more resilient, efficient, and modern. The key problems are the destruction of infrastructure, the need for rapid reconstruction, and attracting long-term investments in conditions of high risk.
– What international practices do you consider appropriate to implement in NEURC’s work?
– My experience in implementing projects in various countries of Central Asia, the European Union, the USA, and the UAE has allowed me to become acquainted with different models of regulation and operation of energy markets. In particular, I would highlight the experience of EU countries in developing competitive electricity and gas markets, as well as approaches to risk management and ensuring the cybersecurity of energy infrastructure. It is important not just to copy models, but to adapt them to Ukrainian realities, considering our unique context.
– Your vision for NEURC’s cooperation with other state bodies, market participants, and international partners?
– Cooperation is key. NEURC must be open to dialogue with all stakeholders: the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Energy, system operators, public organizations, and international financial institutions. I believe that regular consultations and information exchange will help avoid misunderstandings and ensure joint movement towards a common goal – a stable and prosperous energy sector. My experience of active participation in the development of legislative and regulatory documentation, as well as speaking and moderating at industry events, attests to my readiness for such a dialogue.
– How can NEURC contribute to attracting investments?
– By creating a predictable and stable regulatory policy. Investors look for transparency, clear rules of the game, and minimization of political risks. NEURC can contribute to this by developing long-term tariff and investment plans, ensuring non-discriminatory access to networks and markets, and quickly and effectively resolving disputes.
– What does “transparency” in the regulator’s work mean to you?
– For me, transparency means the openness of all decision-making processes, accessibility of information for the public and market participants, and the opportunity to express one’s opinion and be heard. This involves the publication of all draft decisions, conducting open discussions, regular reports on activities, and implementing feedback mechanisms.
I am extremely proud that three Energy Club Vice Presidents are participating in this competition. This testifies to the high expert potential of our organization and its desire to contribute to the development of an effective and modern system of state regulation in the energy sector. It is also an indicator that public associations are playing an increasingly important role in shaping state policy and have a significant voice in processes important for the country. We strive to be not just an expert platform, but also an active participant in change.
The Selection Committee for candidates for positions of members of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) plans to hold the first of two stages of interviews with applicants on May 27-28. Based on the interview results, candidates will be selected for submission to the Government, which appoints NEURC members.
We wish Ivan Grygoruk success and victory in the competition.
