Citizen consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG), in collaboration with the People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation, organised a one-day capacity-building programme as part of the project "Accelerating Clean Energy Transition by Improving Stakeholder Participation for Electricity Governance in India" held on 23rd March 2024 at Press Club, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. The meeting brought together stakeholders who are part of the People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation. Participants included persons working on electricity issues including consumer groups, academics, students, journalists, policymakers, and civil society.
The objectives of the meeting were to:
- To build citizen awareness in Telangana citizens on energy issues and challenges, through knowledge sharing and discussion
- To analyse electricity governance in Telangana and understand institutional relationships in electricity governance and their implications on energy transition
- To explore the current situation of the electricity supply chain, from generation to usage
- To map opportunities that can lead and barriers that hinder Telangana's clean energy transition
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, Member, People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation (PMGER) cordially welcomed all the participants. He provided an overview of the programme's schedule and explained the various activities that PMGER has carried out in the state of Telangana. His insight and expertise helped set the tone for the programme and provided attendees with a clear understanding of what to expect in the upcoming sessions.
Mr. Vishnu Mohan Rao, Senior Researcher, CAG, provided detailed insights into the various initiatives undertaken by CAG to promote clean energy transition in India. He highlighted the organisation’s efforts to facilitate discussions and capacity building in this regard, with a particular focus on five states - Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
Dr. Thimma Reddy, during his speech
Dr. M. Thimma Reddy provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of the electricity sector in Telangana. He discussed the different sources of electricity in the state, their capacity, and how these are managed to meet the ever-increasing demand for energy. He also shed light on the challenges associated with managing the annual revenue requirement for the sector, and how subsidies are provided to different sources of energy.
Dr. K. Babu Rao, speaking about the Telangana electricity sector
Dr. K. Babu Rao delivered a detailed speech focusing on the environmental impact of various energy sources, particularly coal. He expressed his technical opinions of the functioning of Yadadri and Bhadradri thermal power plants. He emphasised the urgency needed in transitioning away from coal due to its significant implications for climate change.
Mr. Sreekumar Nhalur provided a detailed presentation on the regulatory issues in the Telangana power sector. He discussed load forecasting in Telangana and outlined the generation plants as well. Further, he dwelt on the aspect of how consumers can participate in the electricity sector, but need to be empowered with greater awareness and knowledge. Also he touched upon the need for the transition to take into account the needs of marginalised communities, or that they would bear the brunt of the transition.
Mr. Sreekumar Nhalur, presenting on the regulatory issues
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi discussed the energy demand in the agriculture sector. He emphasised the need for clean transition in agriculture, focusing on de-chemicalisation, decarbonization and decentralisation. . He explained that the current status of solar energy technologies makes it the most appropriate for the agriculture sector, as it is decentralised and cost-effective. He believes that this shift towards solar energy will greatly benefit the agriculture industry, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
The programme has determined that engaging in such interactions can effectively enhance the skills and abilities of individuals and citizens, helping them be involved in consumer and general civic issues. As a result, it was unanimously decided to organise similar interactions in the future to continue supporting the growth and development of the participants.