Archive for 7.3 Rural Electrification

Rural Electrification in China: History and Institution

Abstract China has been highly successful in electrifying rural areas in the past half century. Institutional structure and its reform are important for investment and, therefore, development of rural electrification. Over time, there have been three major institutional changes initiated by the central government; When the People’s Republic was founded in 1949, it was short of capital, technology and management professionals to promote rural electrification, so rural electricity had a separate administrative system from the urban areas. From 1949 to 1977, China established a comprehensive vertical system of rural electricity administration under strict central planning. At the end of the 1970s, with the adoption of economic reform policy, the central government handed over the management of the local electricity system to local government. County level has proved the most effective implementation unit for both planning and project implementation of the rural electricity system. From 1998 to 2002, the central government has been separating local electricity supply from local governments to facilitate the commercial operation of the utility market. After 2002, the rural electricity system was merged with the urban system, forming an integrated national electricity administrative system in China.
Date 2006
Author Peng Wuyuan
Publisher
Link http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/22224/Rural_Electrification_China_Peng.pdf
Series China and World Economy, Vol. 14 no. 1
Attachment
7 Electric Power, 7.3 Rural Electrification

Rural Electrification in China 1950-2004: Historical Processes and Key Driving Forces

Abstract The historical process of rural electrification in China can be divided into three stages. The first stage lasted from 1950 until the end of 1970s, when policies of economic reform and liberalization were introduced. Rural electrification was slow, yet impressive progress was made under strict central planning. The second stage encompasses the last two decades of the 20th century, during which time rural industrialization proceeded full force, with investment mainly from local rather than central government. The third stage began at the turn of the century and included large scale consolidation and upgrading of rural grids, funded by a variety of sources. This further improved the quality of electricity service and extended access to remote rural corners of the country. The process of rural electrification has now neared its end, having become almost fully integrated into the power sector in China.
Date 2006
Author Pan Jiahua
Publisher Program on Energy and Sustainable Development
Link http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/21292/WP_60%2C_Rural_Elec_China.pdf
Series Working Paper #60
Attachment
7 Electric Power, 7.3 Rural Electrification