The Central Government has taken an important step towards major reforms in the power sector. The Union Energy Ministry has decided to organize a ‘Thinking Camp’ to create a consensus on the long pending Electricity Amendment Bill and decide the future course of action. In this special meeting, detailed discussions will be held with the representatives of the states so that the old deadlock can be ended and the pace of development can be increased.

Despite being presented in Parliament four times, this bill has not yet become a law due to opposition from states and electricity employees.

Efforts to reform the power sector have been going on for the last decade. Since 2014, the Electricity Amendment Bill has been tabled in Parliament four times. As part of the process, it was sent to the parliamentary committee twice and its draft was also revised thrice. Despite all these efforts, it has not been passed yet due to strong opposition from different states and electricity employees. Keeping this in view, the government has now chosen the path of dialogue and consensus instead of taking unilateral decisions.

Energy ministers and experts of the states will gather on 22nd and 23rd of this month, a new outline will be prepared for reforms.

This ‘Chintan Shivir’ being organized to break the deadlock will be held on 22nd and 23rd of this month. Energy ministers, senior officials and subject experts from various states will participate in this great brainstorming. The main agenda of the meeting is to meet the future energy needs of the country and discuss necessary reforms in the power sector. The Ministry’s effort is to seriously understand the concerns of the states and to give a practical and balanced form to the Bill by creating better coordination between the Centre-States.

To achieve the goal of ‘Developed India 2047’ and improve the condition of distribution companies, drastic changes are necessary.

The Energy Ministry is considering these reforms not just as a bill, but as an essential condition to achieve the goal of ‘Developed India 2047’. The government believes that it is very important to strengthen the power system for industrial development, digital infrastructure and to provide world-class facilities to the citizens. The government intends to increase transparency in the power sector, improve the financial condition of distribution companies (DISCOMs) and provide better services and options to consumers. With this objective in mind, a new roadmap will now be prepared after taking opinion from the states.