24-11-04 Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia agreed a draft agreement concerning the synchronization of their respective energy systems. The document awaits final endorsement by their power sector chiefs.
The Unified Energy System of Russia (UES) confirmed that UES representatives had held talks in Iran and had taken part in the draft agreement's preparation.

Synchronizing the systems will make it possible for the free flow of electricity via interstate high-tension lines. This will significantly boost reliability, as the countries' energy workers will be able to insure each other of power during winter months and in case of calamity.
Chief of Iranian power company Tavanir Masud Hojjat was cited as saying that after the systems are synchronized, Iran will be able to get up to 200 MW transiting Azerbaijan from Russia. This was the first meeting of the tripartite working group for electric power.

UES CEO Anatoly Chubais was the first to announce the three countries' intent to mesh their power grids, after a meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev.
"We will in the near future send a joint bilateral group to talks on this subject, and if they show fundamental technical possibility, the decision will be a major step to expanding a unified synchronized zone, the centre of which is in Moscow," Chubais said at the time.