The West Bengal experience of reforms inpower sector provides key learning on the sequencing, designand implementation of reforms program. The smoothrestructuring of the power sector in West Bengal,characterized by a vibrant civil society, unionized andinfluential public sector workforce, political sensitivitytowards Central Governments reform program is a significantachievement and holds out important lessons for future. Thispaper compares power sector reforms in West Bengal withother states in India and attempts to highlight the positivefactors, which could be considered for future reformprocesses in the country. It also takes a critical look atsome areas where West Bengal could have done better and alsoattempts to identify areas which would require greater focusin the subsequent phases to achieve the overall objectivesof the reform and restructuring process. West Bengal had anadvantage of learning from the reform and restructuringexperience in other 11 states which preceded it and adoptedmeasures to better guide the process and try to overcome theissues which led to shortfalls in achieving certain reformsand restructuring objectives in these states. Thelearning's from the other states helped StateGovernment in adopting a phased approach with extensivestakeholder consultations to restructuring of state powersector entities. The State Government also has an unfinishedagenda of initiating internal reforms and governanceimprovement measures in the generation company.
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