Applicability of Energy Saving Obligations to Indian electricity efficiency efforts

•Analysis of Indian DSM efforts and legislation.•Identification of lessons learned abroad applicable to Indian context.•Short term recommendations for Indian DSM efforts.•Long term consideration for national obligatory DSM scheme.

This paper investigates end-use electricity efficiency policies and DSM related aspects within the Indian electricity sector. This work also identifies lessons for India from White Certificate schemes and Energy Saving Obligations in the UK, France and Italy. These two analyses aim to identify lessons which are applicable for a utility based energy saving obligation scheme within India. Most relevant results and recommendations are that an obligation is suggested, that no elements should be simply copied and that standardization could offer benefits to the Indian context. However, a number of steps would be required prior to introduction of such obligation.