Kherson is the administrative, industrial and cultural center of Kherson Oblast. Total area of the city is 65.02 km2. As of 1 January 2014, the population of the city was 339,300 persons.

The city actively cooperates with international financial institutions and technical assistance projects. The city partners with organizations such asthe United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), Northern Environmental Financial Corporation (NEFCO), and others. In winter 2016, the oblast communal utility Kherson Energy Service Company resumed its work. It is charged with implementing and managing energy saving activities of the city and region.

On 14 January 2009, Kherson supported the leading initiative of the European Union – the Covenant of Mayors. Its signatories commit to reduce their CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020, thus contributing to the development of an environmentally oriented economy and quality of life improvement). In 2011, Kherson became one of the participants of the USAID Municipal Heating Reform Project. Within the framework of this Project, a Municipal Energy Plan was developed as a component of the strategic municipal plan in terms of energy efficiency and energy conservation.

In 2014, after signing of the relevant Memorandum, the city started work with the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (hereinafter – the USAID Project). The Memorandum identified four main foci for municipal energy efficiency improvement and raising funds to finance the relevant measures:

1) supporting the development of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP);

2) improving the energy management system;

3) assisting in attracting investments; and

4) conducting information campaigns.