Delivery Model

For energy provisioning to become independent and sustainable, it not only needs to be a financially viable business opportunity, but also socially and culturally sensitive towards the market it is addressing. Under its entrepreneurial model of energy service delivery, the Lighting a Billion Lives© programme establishes and incubates local energy enterprises as last mile delivery vehicles that bring together social and commercial approaches to create an enabling market environment. The model integrates stakeholders across the energy value chain, identifies the nature of their interest (commercial/social) in the provisioning process, and aligns these to create synergies that make the solar solution more relevant and affordable to the end user. The programme has collaborated with stakeholders across the board including central and state government agencies, multi / bi-lateral organizations, grass root level partners, sponsors, technology manufacturers, local energy entrepreneurs and end users.

With a focus on facilitating access to a menu of cost effective technology options that meet requirements of the end users, TERI facilitates institutionalization of Uttam Urja Kendras or Energy Enterprises (EEs). Owned and operated by independent rural entrepreneurs, these energy enterprises are vital as last mile agents of delivery and function as a retailer as well as a liaison between the manufacturer and end user – supporting the supply of quality products and reliable maintenance services to the end user and providing critical feedback and market intelligence to the manufacturer. As of December 2014, more than 250 such energy enterprises have been facilitated and institutionalized across India under the programme