The Electric Power Research Institute was established in 1973 as an independent, nonprofit center for electricity and environmental research with a special focus on safe, reliable, cost-effective electricity and environmental regulation. It was designed to manage a broad public-private collaborative research program on behalf of the electric utility industry, the industrys customers and society. The institutes clients represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated in the United States and International client participation represents 10 percent of EPRI s program investment. With 30 years of success, EPRI is a leader in creating technology and solving environmental problems. The company s technical program spans virtually every aspect of generation, environmental protection, power delivery, retail use and power markets with more than 900 patents to its credit and a staff whose expertise spans technology fields and the globe. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., the Institute also has 35 centers and offices on five continents around the world.