Power Sector

Reducing Technical and Non-Technical Losses in the Power Sector (2009)
This background paper for the World Bank Group Energy Strategy reviews experience in developing countries by private as well as state-owned electricity companies in reducing total transmission and distribution losses and provides examples of sustainable reductions. View PDF (36 pages, 240kb) 

Deterring Corruption and Improving Governance in the Electricity Sector: A Sourcebook (2008)
The sourcebook is intended to serve as a resource to sector practitioners to assess the extent and risks of corruption in the sector and to improve governance in ways that reduce corruption. View PDF (207 pages, 3607kb) 

The Welfare Impact of Rural Electrification: A Reassessment of the Costs and Benefits (2008)
This report by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) reviews methodological advances made in measuring the benefits of rural electrification and examines the cost and benefits of rural electrification for World Bank-supported projects. View PDF (178 pages, 2512kb)

Operational Guidance for World Bank Group Staff: Designing Sustainable Off-Grid Rural Electrification Projects—Principles and Practices (2008)
Drawing on some 15 years of experience, this note offers guidance and insights into fundamental design principles for sustainability and sound practices for effective decision-making. This note is organized into three sections: (1) a summary of the rationale for off-grid electrification; (2) a discussion of critical factors in project design; and (3) guidelines for off-grid project designers. View PDF (32 pages, 341kb)

Closing the Electricity Supply-Demand Gap (2007)
This study reviews the experience of nine developing countries focusing on the factors that enabled some countries to close the demand-supply gap in the power sector, as well as the factors inhibiting progress in others. Based on nine country case studies, the study identifies six key lessons. View PDF (152 pages, 887kb)

Technical and Economic Assessment of Off-grid, Mini-grid, and Grid Electrification Technologies (2007)
This study reports the results of an assessment of the current and future economic readiness of electric power generation alternatives for developing countries. It systematically characterizes the commercial and economic prospects of renewable and fossil fuel-fired electricity generation technologies now and in the near future, and provides guidance on how to factor in emerging electrification technologies and configurations for national electrification agendas at minimum cost. View PDF (100 pages, 1063kb)

Electrification and Regulation: Principles and a Model Law (2006)
This paper proposes some general principles for creating regulatory systems that would be effective for scaling up electrification, with emphasis on off-grid electrification. View PDF (52 pages, 361kb)

Reforming Power Markets in Developing Countries: What Have We Learned?(2006)
This report, which also serves as a sourcebook, provides guidance on assessing the suitability of available options for public-private roles in the financing and provision of electricity in developing countries. It compiles the lessons of experience from the reforming power markets of developing countries and transition economies. It focuses on reforms that address the generally poor performance of power markets in developing countries but also covers reforms in power markets that are performing reasonably well. View PDF (176 pages, 1339kb)

Operational Guidance for World Bank Group Staff: Public and Private Sector Roles in the Supply of Electricity Services (2004)
This note provides guidance on assessing the suitability of available options for public-private roles in the financing and provision of electricity, and the main steps for analyzing these options. View PDF (24 pages, 217kb)

Power for Development: A Review of the World Bank Group’s Experience with Private Participation in the Electric Power Sector. (2003)
This assessment by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluates the World Bank Group's assistance in 80 countries during the 1990s in promoting private sector development in the electric power sector. View PDF (172 pages, 2471kb)

The World Bank's Role in the Electric Power Sector: Policies for Effective Institutional, Regulatory, and Financial Reform (1993)
This policy paper, which has benefited from extensive outside consultations with developing- and developed-country stakeholders, focuses on the interrelated institutional, regulatory, and financial reform issues that are essential in improving power sector performance. View PDF (86 pages, 6020kb)