Prayas Energy Group has been active in public interest oriented analysis and intervention in electricity regulation from 1996. Our activities include key regulatory interventions in Maharashtra, supporting CSOs in few other States, participating in the CERC process and networking with international groups on electricity governance. Our pro-active initiatives include reports on the functioning of SERCs, review of Quality of Service initiatives and awareness booklets for consumer groups.

As part of this ongoing effort, Prayas Energy Group along with a colleague, Navroz Dubash (Associate Professor at JNU), are organizing a ‘National Conference on Electricity Regulation and Service Delivery to the Poor’ on August 7-8, 2009 at New Delhi.

The ongoing reform has brought in many changes in the electricity sector. There have been major changes in policy, industry structure and ownership. But there is an overwhelming feeling amongst civil society that by and large, the issues of the poor have been neglected while there is disproportionate interest on some issues like captive power plants, open access, commercial viability and markets, which immediately benefit the large consumers. The pro-people and pro-consumer initiatives like RGGVY, participatory processes by regulatory commissions, as well as regulations to monitor quality and equity of electricity services to poor get less attention.

The conference aims to bring out the potential and limitations of the regulatory process to address issues of the poor. It will also try to elaborate on what the sector actors (regulatory, state, utility and CSOs) are doing and can do in the long term interest of the poor. The objectives of the conference are:

- Share experiences of using regulation to improve electricity service delivery to the poor and draw lessons from positive impacts and barriers faced.

- Explore the potential of regulatory process to make it more beneficial to the poor

- Understand the linkages with other aspects of decision making in electricity sector - policy, planning, utility operation, CSO capacity - to assess the limitations of regulatory process

- Share experiences of the regulatory process in the water sector and other related sectors in India

This approach is summarised in the table.

The conference will be organized around discussion sessions based on above matrix. Each session will begin with a brief presentation providing background, discussion themes and questions for the session. This will be followed by moderated discussions. We expect participants from policy bodies (Ministry of Power, Planning Commission), Distribution utilities, Regulatory Commissions, Consultants, CSOs working with the poor, and Academics.

Shri. R.V. Shahi, Ex. Union Power Secretary, Dr. Pramod Deo, Chairman, CERC, and a few other senior experts and regulators kindly agreed to address the conference.

We request your support by way of participating in the conference and contributing to the discussion.

To help us make appropriate arrangements kindly confirm your participation by Tuesday, 7th July 2009.

We will be bearing the local boarding expenses and can offer travel expenses if required.