Cross-Country Comparisons

There is probably no factor that determines the countries’ individual power sector experiences more than their economic policy framework, which includes government priorities, the order and effectiveness of policy measures. This factor is so crucial that strategy and impact of restructuring of the same industry, that is the electric utility industry, can be radically different in different countries. The country case studies presented in the foregoing chapters demonstrate the extent and degree of reform undertaken in the power sectors of these countries. It is evident from these case studies that the nature, process and implementation of power sector reform varies significantly between countries. In this chapter, an attempt is made to perform a cross-country comparison of these countries with respect to: (i) motivations for reform; (ii) the process and types of reform implemented; (iii) paths to reform; (iv) regulatory issues; (v) open competition; (vi) managing the transition; (vii) power sector reform and rural electrification; (viii) energy efficiency and integrated resource planning and (ix) benefits and deficiencies of the reform.