⇒ NITI Aayog released a report on 03 August 2021 that presents reform pathways that can transform the country’s power distribution sector, in a step towards improving policymaking in this area.
Report Title:
The report, titled ‘Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector’, is co-authored by NITI Aayog, RMI and RMI India.
Chapters:
The report is divided into chapters focusing on structural reforms, regulatory reforms, operational reforms, managerial reforms, and renewable energy integration.
Key Points of the Report:
» Most power distribution companies (discoms) in India incur losses every year—total losses are estimated to be as high as Rs 90,000 crore in FY 2021.
» The report presents a review of reform efforts in the Indian and global power distribution sector.
» It extracts the learnings and best practices from the wealth of policy experience that exists in the country.
» This report examines many important reforms such as the role of the private sector in distribution, power procurement, regulatory oversight, integration of renewable energy, and upgradation of infrastructure.
Highlighting the need for addressing current challenges, Clay Stranger, Managing Director, RMI said:
A robust and long-lasting solution to the woes of the discoms requires changes in policy as well as organisational, managerial, and technological reforms.