Bharath Jairaj

Senior Associate

Bio

Bharath Jairaj is a Senior Associate at WRI and works with the Energy Program and the Governance Center. He directs WRI’s India energy program which seeks to inform and catalyse India’s transition to clean energy through increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, while enhancing access to reliable and affordable energy for all Indians. He co-leads the global Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI) that seeks to strengthen governance of the electricity sector through increased transparency, accountability and public participation. Bharath is also involved with WRI projects focused on social inclusion, reducing poverty, improving urban governance and making cities more equal and sustainable.

Prior to WRI, Bharath worked with WWF-India, Toxics Link and Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) in India. He has been part of multiple civil society efforts and public interest campaigns in India and south Asia to strengthen and enforce environmental laws, improve urban governance, enhance citizen participation in decisions that impact their lives, and protect the rights of consumers. He was part of the EGI team that conducted the first governance assessment of the electricity sector in India in 2004-06.

Bharath has a law degree from the National Law School of India, a Master in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore and a Master in Law from the National University of Singapore.

Bharath lives in Chennai with his wife Chitra, daughter Maitreyi and cats, Bonnie, Clyde, Billy and Leah.

Blog Posts

5 Issues to Watch as India Reaches for Ambitious Energy Access Target
by Bharath Jairaj - February 21, 2017
India has committed to to provide 24-7 power to all households by 2019. Unlike previous targets, this time around, there seems to be more excitement that the goals might indeed be achievable.
The Rise of the Urban Energy “Prosumer”
by Sarah Martin and Bharath Jairaj - May 13, 2016
A "prosumer" produces and consumes electricity, usually through rooftop solar panels, while also selling power back to the grid. Prosumers could play an important role in helping India meet its ambitious goal of installing 40 gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity by 2022.
Big Data Improves Renewable Power Forecasts. Will It Help India?
by Bharath Jairaj and Colin McCormick - September 13, 2015
India has set ambitious renewable energy targets for this year of 175 gigawatts by 2022, an increase of 400 percent over 2014. But even as India looks to add new wind and solar plants, it is working to absorb the renewable power it already generates.
Integrated Resources Planning in India Could Help with Electricity Shortages
by Sarah Martin and Bharath Jairaj - May 19, 2014
In India, Tamil Nadu Electricity Governance Initiative (TEGI)—a network of consumer and civil society groups—has been using the Electricity Governance Initiative’s new tool, 10 Questions to Ask About Integrated Resources Planning, to evaluate the state’s current planning approach and understand how it can be improved.

This tool was designed to help make decision-making processes more transparent and enable greater engagement in the electricity sector. To date, TEGI’s work provides a good example of how this tool can be used to start putting Integrated Resources Planning (IRP) principles into practice.
The Real Story Behind Falling Renewable Energy Investments
by Letha Tawney, Bharath Jairaj and Xuege (Cathy) Lu - April 24, 2014
Investors worldwide spent less on renewable energy and related technologies last year than in previous years, making it appear as if the cleantech sector is on the decline.

Taking a deeper dive tells a more complex story—in reality, renewable energy is on a strong growth path—and tools are emerging to push the sector even further.
How Civil Society Groups Can Help Expand Energy Efficiency
by Sarah Martin and Bharath Jairaj - December 18, 2013
Energy efficiency programs in world's major developing countries could save 1,500 Terawatt hours of energy and save consumers US$ 1.5 trillion by 2030.

But despite their “win-win” nature, the purchase of energy efficient appliances remains low in some countries—including in India. This is in part due to low levels of involvement by local civil society organizations (CSOs) in the energy efficiency standards and labeling (S&L) process.
How Civil Society Groups Improved Electricity in Thailand
by Bharath Jairaj and Sorina Seeley - June 19, 2013
Worldwide, one out of every five people lacks access to modern electricity. Affordability, quality of service, and social and environmental impacts pose great challenges in providing people with the power they need for lighting, cooking, and other activities. Good governance involving open and inclusive practices is essential to overcoming these pressing obstacles.

This is part three of a four-part blog series, “Improving Electricity Governance,” which explores the key components involved in effective electricity governance. The series draws on the experiences of WRI’s Electricity Governance Initiative, documented in a new report, “Shining a Light on Electricity Governance.” Read more posts in this series.

Until recently, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) held a monopoly on Thailand’s power generation and transmission since the 1970s. While EGAT provided a relatively stable supply of electricity to consumers, it was unregulated, leading to inefficiencies in the sector, such as wrongly estimated fuel supply. Consumers experienced high prices, while new power projects moved forward with little public consultation, sparking social conflict and concerns over environmental impacts.

The situation worsened in 2003, when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra set forth a plan to restructure Thailand’s electricity sector and privatize EGAT. Rather than improving Thailand’s electricity sector in the public interest, the plan for privatization was designed to increase capital for powerful stakeholders and upper management employees. It called to maintain EGAT’s unregulated monopoly in order to maximize profits, even at the expense of public needs and environmental vulnerabilities.

Thailand’s electricity sector seemed poised to worsen--until civil society groups stepped in.
Civil Society Groups Help Make Electricity Affordable and Sustainable
by Bharath Jairaj and Sarah Martin - February 25, 2013
Worldwide, one out of every five people lacks access to modern electricity. Affordability, quality of service, and social and environmental impacts pose great challenges in providing people with the power they need for lighting, cooking, and other activities. Good governance involving open and inclusive practices is essential to overcoming these pressing obstacles.

This is part one of a four-part blog series, “Improving Electricity Governance,” which explores the key components involved in making electricity decision-making more open, inclusive, and fair. The series draws on the experiences of WRI’s Electricity Governance Initiative, which are documented in a new report, “Shining a Light on Electricity Governance.”

Access to electricity poses major challenges in India. Service varies considerably across the country. In some regions, fewer than 40 percent of people have access to electricity, while half of all rural households lack access to power. These issues will become more challenging as demand for energy is expected to double by 2020. The country will need to figure out how to provide affordable, reliable power in ways that benefit both people and the planet.

But India has a powerful ally in overcoming these electricity challenges: civil society organizations (CSOs).

People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation Steps In

In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation (PMGER), a partner with WRI’s Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI), acts as an advocate for affordable, reliable power. The organization is a consortium of NGOs whose constituencies include farmers’ organizations, environmental and development advocacy groups, electricity advocacy groups, workers’ unions, and research organizations. PMGER ensures that Andhra Pradesh’s electricity decisions are fair, effective, and made with citizens’ best interests in mind.
India’s Blackouts Highlight Need for Electricity Governance Reform
by Bharath Jairaj - August 13, 2012
India recently experienced one of the world’s worst blackouts, with 670 million citizens directly impacted. While media reports have focused on the repercussions from two days of outages, this incident illustrates a much larger, more systemic problem: the need for improved electricity governance.

India’s History of Power Problems

India has the world’s fifth-largest electrical system, with an installed electric capacity of about 206 gigawatts (GW). India initiated power sector reforms in the early 1990s through a range of legal, policy, and regulatory changes. Over the last two decades, some of these reforms have been impressive, but several others weren’t taken. This lack of follow-through has resulted in a growing gap between electricity demand and supply throughout the country. Recent blackouts may have shined a spotlight on this gap, but it’s a situation that’s widespread in India: Not only do 400 million Indians lack access to electricity, but electricity supply is unreliable and of poor quality even in large parts of “electrified” India. In addition to the existing demand, Indian consumers, businesses, and industries seek more electricity to power appliances, processes, and products, further exacerbating the demand-supply gap. By 2035, India’s power demand is expected to more than double.

In looking at the recent blackouts and India’s power supply situation in general, three major governance issues jump out:
Between Populism and Price Increases: Who Will Pay for the Cost of Renewable Energy?
by Davida Wood, Bharath Jairaj, Shantanu Dixit (Prayas, India), Chuenchom Sangarasri Greacen (Palang Thai, Thailand), Asclepias Indriyanto (Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics, Indonesia) and Antonio La Vina (Ateneo School) - June 21, 2011
As feed-in tariffs gain traction as a policy mechanism of choice, we must keep in mind the bigger picture of the financial health of developing country electricity sectors.

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Bharath Jairaj

5 Issues to Watch as India Reaches for Ambitious Energy Access Target

The Rise of the Urban Energy “Prosumer”

Big Data Improves Renewable Power Forecasts. Will It Help India?

Integrated Resources Planning in India Could Help with Electricity Shortages

The Real Story Behind Falling Renewable Energy Investments

How Civil Society Groups Can Help Expand Energy Efficiency

How Civil Society Groups Improved Electricity in Thailand

Civil Society Groups Help Make Electricity Affordable and Sustainable

People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation Steps In

India’s Blackouts Highlight Need for Electricity Governance Reform

India’s History of Power Problems

Between Populism and Price Increases: Who Will Pay for the Cost of Renewable Energy?

The Future Electricity Grid

Key Questions and Considerations for Developing Countries

Strengthening Governance of India's Appliance Efficiency Standards and Labeling Program

10 Questions to Ask About Integrated Resources Planning

10 Questions to Ask About Electricity Tariffs

10 Questions to Ask About Scaling On-Grid Renewable Energy

Robust, Recognizable, and Legitimate

Strengthening India's Appliance Efficiency Standards and Labels through Greater Civil Society Involvement...

Shining a Light on Electricity Governance

Electricity Governance in India

An Analysis of Institutions and Practice

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People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation Steps In

India’s History of Power Problems

Key Questions and Considerations for Developing Countries

Strengthening India's Appliance Efficiency Standards and Labels through Greater Civil Society Involvement...

An Analysis of Institutions and Practice

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