Prospects for sustainable development of Kerala state through the electricity sector policy interventions

Energy management at supply and end-use side and utilization of renewable energy resources are considered as the best options to provide more environment friendly energy to all without affecting the well being of future generations. Formulation of strategies which balances economic development against environmental protection and energy security is vital for sustainable development. This paper evaluates and compares the contributions of the electricity sector of Kerala towards a sustainable future during the period 1991-2011. Power system performance indicators used for the assessment represent the social, economical, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Evaluation is done based on the overall sustainability index (OSI) computed for the years 1991, 2001 and 2011 using benchmarks formulated from the Indian electricity sector performance indicators in the same periods. By examining the sustainability performance, this study identifies desired reforms and policy priorities to put the Kerala state on the sustainable development pathway.