People Power: Customers' perspective and role in determining electricity tariffs

  • Author(s): Gaurav Bhatiani
  • Size: 140 mm × 220 mm
  • Pages: 40
  • ISBN: 9789394657687
  • Cover Price:

    Rs.1.00 / US $1.00

Book Details

All consumers of electricity should read People Power: customers’ perspective and role in determining electricity tariffs to understand how they can participate in decision-making that shapes what consumers pay for electricity. Determining electricity prices, or tariffs, is often seen as a technical matter, to be handled by experts, utilities, and regulators among themselves – the inner circle as it were – but this book shows that consumers have a recognized role in the process and explains the place of that role in law and how such participation is meant to work in practice.

The book describes the formal spaces in which consumer participation is expected, such as formal public hearings related to electricity tariffs, public consultations, and regulatory reviews. By understanding these mechanisms, customers can see that their participation is not symbolic but an integral part of the decision-making framework itself.

At its core, the book contains practical strategies – what consumers should do – to guide customers to engage in the process in a structured way. Simultaneously, the book also outlines the role of regulators– what regulators should do – to enable consumers to participate and contribute in a meaningful manner.

Overall, People Power: customers’ perspective and role in determining electricity tariffs helps consumers move from being passive recipients of electricity bills to active participants in determining how much they should pay. The book provides the insights you need as a consumer to engage with institutions, follow procedures, and contribute to more transparent and balanced electricity pricing decisions.

Target Audience

    Electricity consumers and consumer groups, policymakers, regulators, utility professionals, researchers, legal practitioners, civil society organizations, students, DISCOMs, industry associations, and development agencies interested in electricity tariff regulation and consumer participation.

Table of Contents

    Foreword

    Introduction

    Evolution of the process of determining tariffs for electricity in India

    The pre-reform era

    The Electricity Act, 2003

    Customer participation in determining tariffs under the Electricity Act, 2003

    Legal provisions

    Economic logic

    Social construct

    Institutional architecture

    The customer's role in practice

    Evidence from states

    Consequences of weak or limited participation

    International experience

    Practical steps to enhance customer engagement in electricity tariff regulation

    Start engagement early

    Frame questions carefully

    Strengthen the tariff-hearing processes

    Institutionalize customer representation

    Embed ‘customer challenge’ to network investments

    Prioritize vulnerable and high-risk customers

    Present choices with costs and benefits

    Encourage digital platforms, but offer multiple channels

    Ensure that all submissions by utilities are open and searchable

    Review and improve engagement annually

    Goods and services tax in the electricity sector

    Why and how consumers should advocate for this reform

    Conclusion

    Appendix A Some consumer groups active in electricity sector

    Bibliography

Keywords

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