Imereti Governor in Row with Energy Distribution Company

The United Distribution Company (UDC), which distributes electricity in the regions throughout Georgia, accused Gia Getsadze, the governor of the Imereti region in western Georgia, of insulting one of its employees of the Kutaisi office of the company.
 
Spokesman for the UDC Avto Dvalishvili said, the Imereti governor insulted one of the employees both verbally and physically on November 27. ?He was drunk,? Dvalishvili added.
 
?This report is not true. Gia Getsadze is a good lawyer and he knows that in this case he would face criminal charges. He has not beaten anybody,? Deputy Governor Giga Shushania told Civil Georgia on November 29.
 
The UDC and the administration of Imereti region are at odds over the supply of electricity. Deputy Governor Giga Shushania said that the administration of the Imereti region categorically demands the energy company to observe a promised 17-18 hour electricity supply for the population of Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city.
 
?In reality, the entire city has been blacked out for the past few months. Moreover, the population cannot receive drinking water becasuse of the same reason. The employees of the energy company claim that Kutaisi was supplied with electricity, however it is not true,? Giga Shushania said. 

The UDC is managed by the U.S. PA Consulting Group, which is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).