All the countries of South Asia have by now embarked on the path of reforming
their infrastructure sectors. Key components of this reform are the introduction
of competition; private participation in the provision of services in
infrastructure sectors such as water, energy, and transport; and creation of
specialized regulatory agencies.
Recognizing the demand for the development of new institutions and new
approaches, and in response to the transformations taking place as a result of
economic reforms initiated in the early 1990s in India, the Regulatory Studies
and Governance Division of TERI was established in January 1999. These
transformations created the need - which the Division set out to address - to
understand the key regulatory issues and their implications, devise appropriate
strategies, and contribute to the decision-making process.
The Division has three key areas: energy reforms, regulatory policy, and
urban systems and infrastructure. Within a short time frame, the Division has
established itself as a leading applied research group, having built its work
philosophy around developing practical, sound, and innovative solutions. The
Division facilitates the strengthening of new and emerging forms of governance
and regulation in infrastructure sectors such as electricity, water, coal, oil
and natural gas, and transport. The clients of the Division include regulatory
authorities, departments and ministries of governments, international agencies,
development banks, public and private utilities.
The Division advises on the following to influence policy making.
Designing regulatory regimes
Designing and rationalizing tariffs for promoting
efficiency and competition
Assessing
regulatory impact
Assessing and
forecasting demand
Devising simulation,
econometric, and optimization modelling
Conducting techno-economic feasibility
studies
Devising strategies for
encouraging public-private partnerships
Developing sustainable policies for the
management of urban infrastructure and transport systems
Analysing issues and formulating strategies for
promoting regional cooperation in the energy sector
Formulating power system master plans
Conducting energy audits to assess T&D
(transmission and distribution) loss and recommend mitigation strategies
Training, capacity building, and information
dissemination
Promoting principles of
good governance-transparency, accountability, participation, and targeted
approach.
