List of Figures, Tables, Boxes and Annexures

Preface and Acknowledgements

Section I
Governance of Rural Electricity System

1. Governance of Rural Electricity System: An Overview of Indian Scenario
   — Haribandhu Panda

Introduction

Development Concerns and State of Rural Electricity in India

Environmental Factors Affecting Rural Electricity

Institutions and Institutional Innovations for Rural Electricity

Innovation in Electricity Distribution in Rural Areas of Orissa

Extent of Realisation of Development Goals

Governance Issues and Strategies

Concluding Remarks

Section II
Rural Electrification: Development Concerns

2. Electricity and Rural Development Linkage
   — Keshab Das

Introduction

Agriculture and Electricity

Rural Industrialisation and Electricity

Electricity and the Domains of Household and Community

Concluding Observations

3. Electrifying Rural India: The Search for a Viable and Sustainable Approach
   — Navroz K. Dubash

Introduction

Rural Electrification Approaches: India and Globally

Dimensions of Sustainability

Conclusion

4. Energy-Water Nexus in the Rural Area
   — S. Padmanaban • Chinmaya Acharya

Background: The Energy and Water Sectors

Energy-Water Nexus: Governance Approaches

Conclusion

Section III
Rural Electrification: Regulatory and Policy Issues

5. National Rural Electrification Policy and the Electricity Act, 2003 in Effectively Meeting the Rural Electricity Needs
   — V. Ranganathan

Introduction

Electricity Act 2003 and Alternative Organisational

Structures for Electricity Supply for Rural Areas

Conclusion

6. Electricity Regulatory Commissions and Rural Electricity
   — Geeta Gouri

Introduction

Posing the Problem

Regulatory Interventions in Competitive Power Markets

Conclusion

7. Political Economy of Rural Electrification in India
   — N. Vijayamohanan Pillai

Introduction

Rural Electrification in India

The Political Economy of Rural Electrification

Section IV
Rural Electrification: Technological Options and Tariff

8. Technological Options and Cost of Supplying Electricity to Rural Areas
   — B.S. Pathak

Rural Sector: A Brief Review

Power Supply to Rural Sector

9. Rural Electricity Tariff
   — Subhes C. Bhattacharyya

Introduction

Characterisation of Electricity Use in Rural India

Rural Electricity Tariffs: Present Situation and Need for a Change

Considerations for Rural Electricity Tariffs

Issues of Viability and Affordability of Rural Electricity Supply

Conclusion

Section V
Institutional Mechanisms for Rural Electricity in India

10. Institutional Framework for Effectively Meeting the Electricity Needs of Rural Population
    — R. Rejikumar

Introduction: Importance of Electricity in Rural Life

Review of Various Models of Rural Electrification

Institutional Framework for Rural Electrification in India

Conclusions and Recommendations

11. Critical Review of Existing Institutions and Institutional Mechanisms for Rural Electricity and Possible Areas for Improvement
    — Chandrashekar Iyer • Manisha Misri

Introduction

Requirements for Rural Electricity and the Role of Institutions

Indian Experience with Rural Electrification

International Experience in Rural Electrification

Conclusion

Section VI
Rural Electrification: Experiences and Future Directions

12. Experiences of Power Sector Reform: Strategies for Including the Poor
    — Ashok Kumar Singha • N.V. Ramana • Vijay Mahajan 

Introduction

Dimensions of Power Sector Reform and Poverty

Key Reform Components

Issues and Impact of Reform

Power and Livelihoods

Effect of Reform on the Poor and Equity Issues

Experience of Reform in Orissa

Key Reform Lessons and Emerging Challenges

Inclusive Institutional Model

Sustainable Rural Power Distribution Model

Strategies that Include the Poor

Conclusion

13. Rural Electrification: The Way Forward
    — Sudhir Vadehra

Introduction

Strategy for Comprehensive Electrification of Villages

Development of Institutional Framework at Delivery End

Institutional Options

Participative Model

14. Lessons from the Experiences of Governance of Rural Electricity Systems and Future Directions
    — G. Subba Rao

Introduction

Current Status

Policy Objectives, Legal Provisions

Issues and Suggestions

Index