Quality power supply must be the next phase of power reforms: Experts
New Delhi, July 7
Reliable electricity supply is not merely about powering lights and fans but is closely linked to dignity, livelihoods and equitable development, former Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Suresh Kumar Agarwal said on Tuesday, while stressing the need for structural reforms to improve the quality of power supply in rural areas.
Delivering the keynote address at a roundtable on "Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide in Reliable and Quality Power Supply: A Path to Equitable Development with focus on Uttar Pradesh", organised by APCO in collaboration with Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), Agarwal said that while India has made remarkable progress in expanding electricity access through increased generation capacity and nationwide electrification, ensuring reliable and quality power supply, particularly in rural areas, remains a significant challenge.
"Electricity supply is not just for light and fan it is a matter of dignity, honour and livelihood", Kumar said.
"Past reforms successfully expanded electricity access through generation capacity and nationwide electrification, but reliability and service quality, particularly in rural areas, continue to remain major challenges," he mentioned.
He said addressing network constraints, staffing shortages, distribution planning and effective monitoring of rural feeders would be critical to improving service quality and ensuring equitable access to electricity.
Welcoming participants, APCO Associate Director Vipin Chanddra highlighted the importance of discussions aimed at strengthening the power distribution system.
In his opening remarks, Dr Debajit Palit, Centre Head of the Centre for Climate Change and Energy Transition at CRF, said India's electricity sector has reached a critical stage where future reforms must shift focus from access to reliability, quality and consumer-centric services.
He noted that with renewable energy playing an increasingly important role in meeting electricity demand, the distribution segment has become the crucial link between policy and consumers. Uttar Pradesh, with its rapidly rising power demand, expanding industrialisation, implementation of the PM Surya Ghar initiative and persistent rural-urban disparities, presents an important opportunity for advancing equitable and reliable electricity supply through structural reforms, he added.
During the inaugural session, the keynote speaker and panellists unveiled a policy brief titled "Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide in Reliable and Quality Power Supply: A Path to Equitable Development", prepared jointly by researchers from APCO and CRF.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Living in Lucknow, I see the difference between city and village power supply clearly. My friend in Sitapur still uses inverters daily, while we have almost no cuts. The PM Surya Ghar initiative is good but what about grid reliability first? Sunnah kaam hai, but a solid grid is the foundation. Effective monitoring is not just a suggestion, it's a necessity in UP.
We take steady power for granted in Australia. It's good to see India moving from access to quality. The link between livelihoods and reliable power is very real—small businesses, healthcare, schools all suffer without it. I hope these structural reforms prioritize last-mile distribution.
True, but let's be honest—this is a decades-old problem. Discoms are bleeding money, theft is rampant in many areas, and staffing shortages are just an excuse. If we can't fix basic metering and billing in rural UP, 'consumer-centric services' sound like a joke. Real reform must start with accountability.
I work in a small factory near Varanasi. Power cuts during peak hours cost us production and money. We have to run generators which double our costs. 'Dignity' is not having to choose between paying for diesel or paying workers. If the government really prioritizes rural feeders, it will change lives. 👏
The policy brief sounds promising. It's interesting that they highlight renewable energy integration—if villages get reliable grid power plus solar home systems, that could be a game-changer. But as others said, distribution is the weakest link. Let's see if these recommendations translate into action.