Rethinking Power Sector Reform in the Developing World

During the 1990s, a new paradigm for power sector organization grew out of the wider “Washington Consensus” on development and was spearheaded by multilateral institutions. The aim of this study is to revisit, refresh, and update thinking on power sector reform in developing countries in the light of historical evidence and future trends. Relying on a rich new evidence base, the study looks back over 25 years of experience with power sector reform across the developing world. At the same time, the study looks ahead to the technological disruptions sweeping the power sector, developments that are challenging conventional wisdom about sector organization and structure. At the same time, the study looks ahead to the technological disruptions sweeping the power sector, developments that are challenging conventional wisdom about sector organization and structure. The purpose of this overview is to summarize the lessons from the study and reflect upon their implications for future practice. The study suggests that future reforms should be shaped by context, driven by outcomes, and informed by alternatives.