Talk by
Mr. Ashish Khanna
Lead Energy Specialist and India Energy Team Leader,
The World Bank
On
“Power Sector Reforms: The Journey of Improving Governance and Rural Supply”
Date: Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Venue: Conference Room, Centre for Policy Research, Dharam Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
Abstract:
By the late 1990s the technical and financial performance of the power sector in India had deteriorated to the point where the Government of India had to step in to bail out the state utilities, almost all of which were vertically integrated State Electricity Boards (SEBs). Considering that the dismal performance of state utilities reflected internal and external shortfalls in governance, the new Electricity Act of 2003 mandated the unbundling and corporatization of the SEBs, along with the establishment of independent regulators, as a means of bringing about a more accountable and commercial performance culture with concomitant results in terms of improving the performance of utilities. A decade later another financial restructuring plan, four times the amount of restructuring undertaken a decade back with increased ramifications on private and financial sector, was finalized and rolled out in 2013.
What has been the experience with corporatization and reform experience in states? How does the key issue of agricultural and rural supply experience fit in within the overall reform story?
Ashish Khanna, Lead Specialist and India Energy Team Leader of World Bank, would be sharing his own experience of working across ten states over last 13 years on reform related issues. The presentation (30 minutes followed by discussion) would also capture the outputs of recent work undertaken by World Bank on different approaches followed by states in managing rural supply, and broader lessons on corporatisation of state utilities and regulatory reforms at state power sector.
Speaker’s Biography:
Ashish Khanna leads the World Bank’s India energy program, which includes a portfolio of $5 billion across the energy sector. His responsibilities involve building the program strategy, ensuring its quality, and managing client relationships with the senior-most levels in government, public organizations, the private sector, and industry forums. Khanna also leads the World Bank’s renewable and energy efficiency program in India. Before joining the World Bank in 2005, Khanna worked with KPMG/Arthur Andersen as senior manager, infrastructure and government practice, where he led business development of the firm’s Indian energy business. Khanna holds an undergraduate degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration, with specialization in finance. As a recipient of the John K. Galbraith scholarship, Khanna completed his master’s in public administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (Edward S. Mason Program). He has spoken at various international conferences, including the International Development Conference at Harvard. Khanna is also a regular speaker at national conferences in India.
