IIT Kanpur hosts Regulatory Conclave on Role of Women in Power Sector Regulation
- The event brought together key stakeholders across power sector covering electricity regulatory commissions, Discoms, Gencos, NGOs, as well as academic institutions
- Discussions highlighted the need for providing women equal access to capacity building programs, adoption of equal opportunities in workplace, a doctrine of preference in recruitment, mentoring/male sensitization of colleagues and introducing new gender specific policies
Kanpur : The Centre for Energy Regulation (CER) at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) hosted a virtual Regulatory Conclave titled “Role of Women in Power Sector Regulation”. The event brought together key stakeholders across power sector covering Electricity Regulatory Commissions, Discoms, Gencos, NGOs, as well as academic institutions.
The conclave hosted a panel discussion with leading national and international experts. Ms. Parminder Chopra (Chair), Chairman & Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation; Ms. Audrey Zibelman (Co-chair), Former Chairperson of New York Public Utility Commission and Former CEO of Australian Energy Market Operator; Mr. V. P. Raja, Former Chairman of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission; and Ms. Anjuli Chandra, Former Member of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission were part of the panel.
Dr. Aprajita Salgotra and Prof. Anoop Singh from the Centre of Energy Regulations at IIT Kanpur recently presented a comprehensive study on the role of women in society and their involvement in the regulatory governance of the power sector. The study delves into the gender gap within this field, identifying significant factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of women, particularly in regulatory roles. The research involved an in-depth analysis of regulatory commissions across India and nine other countries, supplemented by a thorough online survey. The findings highlight cultural and social norms as major barriers to women’s participation. Recommendations include providing equal access to capacity-building programs, adopting equal opportunity policies in the workplace, implementing recruitment preferences, and introducing gender-specific policies to foster inclusivity and diversity in the regulatory governance framework.
In support of these recommendations, Prof. Anoop Singh announced that the CER will now offer additional discounts for individual female participants in its upcoming Regulatory Certification Programs (RCPs). These online programs are designed to provide flexibility, allowing women to enhance their knowledge base and advance their careers in power sector regulation. This initiative reflects CER’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and supporting women’s professional development within the sector.
The conclave highlighted the need to adopt best practices to enhance women’s participation and promote gender inclusivity in power sector regulation. Through collaborative efforts, stakeholders aim to develop a more resilient and gender-responsive policy framework.