CUTS-FES Project

Project Rationale

The current trend suggest that the power scenario in Rajasthan continues to remain grim, despite the fact that the reform process has been initiated.

As far as the consumer is concerned, they having found no difference in the functioning of the new Distribution Companies from the erstwhile RSEB, opine that the reform process initiated in the state has absolutely no benefits. In their eyes, the reform process has not done much, the quality of service still remains poor, while tariffs have gone up substantially.

Also, behavioural pattern of the employees of the distribution companies remain the same, by and large uncompromising, discourteous and inefficient in responding to complaints.

From political side there is no consensus among the numerous political parties vis-à-vis reforms, many political leaders in public condemn the reform process, stating that it has not achieved any thing.

Given this scenario, it is imperative for the success of the reform process to involve consumers to participate in the reform process in a big way, and also play an active role in the functioning of the distribution companies. This would be more so required, when the distribution companies get privatised, which is expected to take place in the near future.

Further, the success of the `Reform’ process largely depends on sensitisinig the service providers, regulators, and other stakeholders that the reform process does not just mean unbundling, privatisation etc. but should result in qualitative and quantitative improvements in the services. The `Reform’ process could definitely be turned to be an achiever, if there is consensus among everyone as to what is required, and participate of all stakeholders in the process rather than be cynical and rhetorical about it.

Understood this all, CUTS in association with Fiedrich Ebert Stiftung, took initiative and announces the project, titled `Involvement of Consumers in Power Sector Reforms’ which would cover three divisions of Rajasthan, namely, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.