The Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) proposed by the Planning Commission has laid down a broad framework for energy policy in India. Specific measures are required to take it forward, and to implement it. Effective implementation of the proposed energy policy that covers all sources of energy and addresses all aspects including energy security, access and availability, affordability and pricing, efficiency and environment is imperative. Meanwhile, Energy Coordination Committee (ECC), chaired by the Prime Minister of India deliberates on the issues on the interface of key organizations.

The required measures will involve many players in the energy sector, will affect users of energy and will have a profound impact on the competitiveness of many industries. To define the policies a dialogue among the major key players of the energy sector such as PSUs, private sector, policy makers in the government, academic experts and other stakeholders is required. Such a dialogue is critical to developing a consensus, which is the key to successful implementation of the proposed policy. The dialogue can be enriched with experts from abroad who bring insights from other countries.

India has five energy ministries in the central government, a large number of public and private sector units, state energy ministries, state electricity boards, regulatory bodies and finally consumers. The interface has to be smooth and responsive to various needs. Some of the large public sector units have now reached high productivity levels. But still higher gains may be possible through co-operation and co-ordination.

The key questions to be addressed are:

• What principles, rules and regulatory frameworks are needed to ensure smooth interface?
• What should be the incentive (and penalty) structure that will prevent one sector from causing inefficiency in others?
• How can coordination, cooperation and collaboration help while ensuring competition?
  
  
• What actions are needed at the interface between suppliers of coal and power producers, downstream and upstream in oil and gas sectors, generation and transmission with and private sectors and so on? How can regulatory frameworks help?