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To regulate or not to regulate off-grid electricity access in developing countries

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  • Bhattacharyya, Subhes C.

Abstract

As off-grid electrification receives global attention in the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, the role of regulation for this alternative form of electricity delivery requires a careful investigation. This paper asks whether the activity has to be regulated or not. It then tries to find out where regulation can be used and what type of regulation is appropriate. It suggests that for product-type delivery options, there is no justification for regulatory intervention in the sense of utility regulation but such intervention makes sense in the case of mini-grid-based off-grid delivery options. The paper considers the pros and cons of a generic license waiver, a simplified regulatory arrangement and a full-fledged regulatory supervision and suggests that a light-handed approach is appropriate in general to promote the activities of the sub-sector but more formal approaches may be required if the players do not abide by the rules. The paper also highlights some regulatory challenges and issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., 2013. "To regulate or not to regulate off-grid electricity access in developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 494-503.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:63:y:2013:i:c:p:494-503
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.08.028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C. & Srivastava, Leena, 2009. "Emerging regulatory challenges facing the Indian rural electrification programme," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 68-79, January.
    2. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C. & Ohiare, Sanusi, 2012. "The Chinese electricity access model for rural electrification: Approach, experience and lessons for others," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 676-687.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdul-Salam, Yakubu & Phimister, Euan, 2016. "How effective are heuristic solutions for electricity planning in developing countries," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 14-24.
    2. Florian Egli & Churchill Agutu & Bjarne Steffen & Tobias S. Schmidt, 2023. "The cost of electrifying all households in 40 Sub-Saharan African countries by 2030," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Masako Numata & Masahiro Sugiyama & Gento Mogi, 2020. "Barrier Analysis for the Deployment of Renewable-Based Mini-Grids in Myanmar Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Rahman, Arief & Richards, Russell & Dargusch, Paul & Wadley, David, 2023. "Pathways to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on oil and achieve longer-term decarbonization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1305-1323.
    5. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C. & Palit, Debajit, 2016. "Mini-grid based off-grid electrification to enhance electricity access in developing countries: What policies may be required?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 166-178.
    6. Mathilde Brix Pedersen, 2016. "Deconstructing the concept of renewable energy-based mini-grids for rural electrification in East Africa," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(5), pages 570-587, September.
    7. van Zyl-Bulitta, Verena Helen & Ritzel, Christian & Stafford, William & Wong, James Gien, 2019. "A compass to guide through the myriad of sustainable energy transition options across the global North-South divide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 307-320.
    8. Abdul-Salam, Yakubu & Phimister, Euan, 2016. "The politico-economics of electricity planning in developing countries: A case study of Ghana," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 299-309.
    9. Bhattacharyya, S.C. & Palit, D., 2021. "A critical review of literature on the nexus between central grid and off-grid solutions for expanding access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    10. Sheridan, Steve & Sunderland, Keith & Courtney, Jane, 2023. "Swarm electrification: A comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    11. Subhes C. Bhattacharyya, 2018. "Mini-Grids for the Base of the Pyramid Market: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, April.
    12. Comello, Stephen D. & Reichelstein, Stefan J. & Sahoo, Anshuman & Schmidt, Tobias S., 2017. "Enabling Mini-Grid Development in Rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 94-107.
    13. Sachiko Graber & Tara Narayanan & Jose F. Alfaro & Debajit Palit, 2019. "Perceptions towards solar mini‐grid systems in India: A multi‐stakeholder analysis," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(4), pages 253-266, November.
    14. Malhotra, Abhishek & Schmidt, Tobias S. & Haelg, Leonore & Waissbein, Oliver, 2017. "Scaling up finance for off-grid renewable energy: The role of aggregation and spatial diversification in derisking investments in mini-grids for rural electrification in India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 657-672.
    15. Plutshack, Victoria & Sengupta, Subhanjan & Sahay, Arunaditya & Viñuales, Jorge E., 2019. "New and renewable energy social enterprises accessing government support: Findings from India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 367-378.

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