Presentation at DREC Launch Meeting Saturday, 25 th June, 2010, Kolkata Udai Mehta, CUTS International

1. Demand Side Management & Renewable Energy In India: Capacity Building of CSOs -- DREC Projectsupported by ClimateWorks Foundation, USA through Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), India Presentation at DREC Launch Meeting Saturday, 25th June, 2010, Kolkata Udai Mehta, CUTS International

2. Outline • About CUTS International • Background and Need • DREC Project • Features • Objective • Activities • Expected Outcomes • Project Execution

3. CUTS International • Genesis: Consumer rights organisation estd. in 1983. • Three resource centres in India: Calcutta, Delhi and Chittorgarh • Four resource centres outside India: Nairobi, Kenya; Lusaka, Zambia; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Geneva, Switzerland • Broad areas of work: Trade, Regulation and Governance • Active programmes on competition, economic regulation and consumer policy and law issues in 30 countries of Africa, and Asia…. and growing.

4. Context Energy : Critical ingredients for infrastructure development and economic growth • Projected economic growth at 8-9%, results in growth in energy demand • Energy security and providing energy access has gained importance • Use of alternative source of energy ensures Sustainable and Responsible growth • Imperative for India to focus on Demand Side Management (DSM) & Renewable Energy (RE)

5. Need for alternative sources of energy-What and Why • Energy sources that can be used instead of fossil fuels • Fossil fuels they DO have a life expectancy • Burning fossil fuels has increased atmospheric pollution • Hope lies with things such as sun, water, wind, waves and tides – renewable energy “The Earth, The Water and the Air, not a gift to us from our parents but a loan for our children”

6. Need for RE & DSM • Need for RE • Security of Supply • Sustainable Economic Growth • Environmental Sustainability • Reduction in Carbon Emission and hence combat climate change • Need for DSM • Customer Benefits - Satisfy electricity demands, Reduce / stabilise costs (bills) • Social Benefits – Energy Conservation, Reduce environmental degradation • Utility Benefits – Lower cost of service, Improve operating efficiency, Reduce capital needs, Improve customer service

7. Project Features • States – West Bengal and Gujarat • Duration – Two Years • Components – Research, Capacity Building and Advocacy • Approach – Bottom-up approach of multi-stakeholder involvement • Beneficiaries – Civil Society, Government & Business Community

8. Objectives • Increase long term capacity/awareness of CSOs to demand for DSM/RE initiatives • Train CSOs to participate in regulatory processes • Develop a mechanism to take the views of the CSOs to the policy level and vice-versa

9. Importance of CSO Intervention • Promotion and adoption of Renewable and DSM measures has a direct bearing on the electricity tariffs that ultimately affect the consumers • Consumers have a right to know reasons for promotion of a particular technology and the method for tariff calculation • CSO participation is crucial since it can create demand pull for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the country.

10. Activities • Research • Literature Review • Baseline Consumer Survey and Research Report • Final Consumer Survey • Capacity Building • State Level Training Workshops – Two in each State • Consumer Interface Meetings – Two in each State • Advocacy • Local Inception Workshop • Policy Advocacy Meetings – State and National Level • National Conference • Constitution of Project Advisory Committee (PAC)

11. Outcomes • More cognisant Civil Society Groups on issues pertaining to Renewable Energy and DSM • Increase in demand from the consumer end which can result in policy initiatives • Effective policy actions by the government for enhancement of Renewable Energy and DSM

12. Project Execution Diagram CUTS C-CIER Support &Training Advice & Guidelines Reporting CUTS-CRC West Bengal Gujarat Local CSOs and other stakeholders

13. “Beginnings are always exciting” THANK YOU

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