Mid-Term Evaluation Meeting 1 & 2 April 2009, Jaipur

Mid-Term Evaluation Meeting1 & 2 April 2009, Jaipur CAPACITY BUILDING ON ELECTRICITY REFORMS IN BANGLADESH, INDIA AND NEPAL(RESA) CUTS- Calcutta Resource Centre

PART I Project Implementation in West Bengal

1. Launch meeting and Training of nodal persons/project staff The Launch Meetingwas organised in Kolkata. This helped the West Bengal partner to generate greater interest about the project in the local media, local consumer groups and impress upon the Power Department and the West Bengal Regulatory Commission about the importance of this project.

2. Local Inception Workshop • Before organizing this workshop, the RG Group was formed and the 10 select district level partners were identified • The RG members; the local partners; the media; the local CSOs and general consumers were invited to this workshop. • This workshop was a great success and was reported in three leading news paper. • The objective was to brief the invitees about the scope and contours of the project activities and objective.

3. Field Research and Baseline Survey • The survey was successfully done with the help of the 10 local partners covering 700 respondents from different categories of consumer groups across the state. • The draft baseline paper was prepared capturing the findings of the survey . • The draft paper was circulated among the RG group for their comments.

4. Reference Group Meeting-I • The comments received from the RG groups were collated, discussed in detail to arrive at a consensus on the points to be considered and those to be rejected. • The second objective of this meeting was to finalise the components and the structure of the TTM that could be used not just for this project but also for future purposes.

Major Outcome of RG-1 • Prititosh Ray, Senior Member of the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC), and K L Biswas, Secretary, WBERC, actively participated in the Reference Group (RG) Meeting for the first time. • The support of the WBERC was important for successful implementation of the project in West Bengal. • A team of three experts---representative of the WBERC, Utility service provider and an academician---was formed to guide the CUTS-CRC team in finalisation of the territorial training manual (TTM). • The said experts also helped in identifying resource persons during the territorial trainings.

5.Territorial Training • This was conducted in two phases to train the select trainers from the 10 local partners. • The first phase was to orient them to basic and simple issues related to consumers of electricity.

First phase covered the following topics: • General Introduction to Electricity Sector Reforms and Regulation • Quality of Service: A general Overview • Complaint Redressal Mechanism • Procedure for Getting New Connection – Permanent and Temporary Connection • Quality of service: Technical Issues • Understanding Electricity Consumption & Bill • Reduction of power theft: Role of consumers

The second phase focused on the more complex issues. The agenda covered: • Regulatory Decision-making Process • Tariff Determination Process • Energy Conservation: Role of Consumers • Energy Efficiency and Electrical Equipment Rating • Tariff Regulation: Key issues • Competition Issues in Electricity Supply Industry

6. Grassroots Interface Meetings (GIM) -Phase I • Most of the GIMs generated enthusiastic response from local media. The meetings were telecasted in the local T.V. channels which helped in greater outreach. • In all, 24 Grassroots meetings were organised in 10 districts of West Bengal . • All the districts organised one meeting each in the district headquarter and at least one more at the block level. • Some of the partners organized more than two GIMs in their districts.

The sessions were conducted by CUTS’ representative, the representatives from the local utility and also by the local partner. • The three principal themes focused were: • Electricity Reform Process and Role of Consumers • Complaint Redressal Mechanism • Energy Conservation and Reduction of Power Theft: Role of Consumers • A synthesis report has been prepared where the main systemic problems have been collated.

Outputs of the Project • Territorial Base Paper • Training Manual • Handouts • Calendar with key messages for consumers • Synthesis Report

PART-II SLOT ANALYSIS

Strengths • The project has succeeded in generating keen interest and enthusiasm among: • Consumers---both rural and urban; • The Department of Power and Non- Conventional • Energy Sources (NES), Government of West Bengal; • The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission • (of course after initial reservations); • The Utilities; • The Media (print as well as electronic); • Academia.

Political environment has been supportive towards the implementation of project and Involvement of WBERC • Active involvement of the RG members: Sense of ownership and commitment • Team members having rich experience on working at grassroots level • Involvement of local partners---strong and reliable networks at the grassroots level • Involvement and participation of media • Active support from CUTS head office

Ways in which this project has further enhanced CUTS-Calcutta Resource Center's strength • The design and structure of this project has helped to pinpoint and identify the systemic and specific problems of the selected districts, of the different communities / consumer groups, and of the system as a whole. • Enhanced our and our local partners’ capacity and conviction to take this initiative forward in a surer and more effective manner to build capacity of consumers so that they can participate effectively in the Reform Process.

It has created for CUTS-CRC a favourable position and relation with policy makers to enable CUTS to advocate and recommend policy change. • Cuts has earned great credibility and faith of Department of Power and NES and the Regulatory Commission in West Bengal. • Already one such recommendation put forward has been considered and corrective measures are being taken.

Limitations • Project geographical coverage was limited to 10 districts only. • A two-year time period was felt to be insufficient to meet the consumer demand and eagerness for training in all areas concerning consumers . • Training needs are more substantial than could be covered under the activities of the project. Focused periodic training modules are needed.

Manpower issues are also pertinent in this context. A bigger team for the project will help in better implementation & impact. • Varying capacities of the partners to grasp & internalise the training inputs. • This was the first project and first initiative of its kind in the State on capacity building of consumers on Reform Process in Electricity Sector.

Other Factors which Created Limitations • Rigid mindset and traditional outlook of the older personnel at the local level in the distribution system. • Abysmal ignorance of consumers about Reform process in Electricity sector • Absolute lack of knowledge about the provisions laid down in the Regulations and about WBERC. • Lack of robust information dissemination mechanisms and awareness programmes of the Utilities and the Regulatory Commission.

Opportunities • There is an urgent need for undertaking periodic capacity building and awareness programmes and training programmes. • Need to extend the project to other districts of the State and neighbouring states, north-eastern states in particular. • Need for establishment of a parallel and informal 3-tier redressal mechanism at the districts and further down the level by building Consumer Assistance Cells.

Informal 3-tier redressal mechanism proposed • Consumer Assistance Cell at the District level • Consumer Assistance Cell at CUTS-CRC • Complaint redressal of short listed cases at the Utility offices every alternate month.

Opportunities (contd.) • Need to further engage with the Media and sensitise them on consumer and environmental / climate change issues related to Power and Energy. • Need to continue engaging with the WBERC officials and strengthen our relationship. • CUTS-CRC is now being invited by the major players in the power & energy sector to partner them in their capacity building/ awareness generation programmes and Grassroots projects.

Threats • Frequent reshuffling of senior government officials may hinder the advocacy efforts • Change in Political and Social environment may affect and diminish the impact of our efforts. • There is a possibility that a few participants fromthe GIM Phase I may not be available for the GIMsecond phase. • Limited time available for second phase of the GIMs to be organised during the summers months may create organisational & logistical hurdles and affect participation of rural consumers.

Thank You

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West Bengal with its 10 select districts and the names of the partners Back

Mid-Term Evaluation Meeting 1 & 2 April 2009, Jaipur