Rethinking Power Sector Reform in the Developing World[Repenser la réforme du secteur de l’électricité dans les pays en développement]

A new paradigm for power sector reform emerged during the 1990s, under the influence of the Washington Consensus, and began to spread across the developing world. This approach advocated restructuring of national power utilities to create scope for competition, while delegating responsibilities to the private sector under a clear regulatory framework. After 25 years, few developing countries have managed to adopt the model in its entirety, while many others encountered political and economic challenges along the way. This book provides a comprehensive evaluation of developing country power sector reform, sifting the evidence of whether reforms have contributed to improved sector outcomes. It also examines to what extent the reform paradigm remains relevant to the new social and environmental policy agenda of the twenty-first century, and is capable of adaptation to emerging technological disruption.