Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- Overview -- The Centralized and Decentralized Tracks to Electrification -- What Are Small Power Producers and Distributors? -- Regulating SPPs -- Regulating Main-Grid-Connected SPPs -- Regulating SPPs and Mini-Grids That Sell to Retail Customers -- Preparing for the Arrival of the Main Grid -- From Broad Strategy to Ground-Level Implementation -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Abstract -- Africa's Two-Track Approach to Rural Electrification -- Our Purpose and Approach -- What Are the Typical Starting Conditions in Africa? -- Whose Regulatory Decisions? -- Acknowledging Controversies and Understanding Different Vocabularies -- Regulation: The Problem or One Part of the Solution? -- Two Other Important Success Factors -- Organization of the Guide -- Chapter Highlights -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2 Small Power Producers, Small Power Distributors, and Electrification: Concepts and Examples -- Abstract -- What Are Small Power Producers? -- The Four Main Types of Grid and Off-Grid SPPs in Africa -- Combinations of Cases -- Purchases As Well As Sales -- Mini-Grids and SPPs: A Clarification -- Which Types of SPPs Are Likely to Achieve Commercial Viability? Some Early Evidence from Tanzania -- What Are SPDs? -- Electrification: What Is It and How Can It Be Measured? -- Defining Electrification as Connections -- Defining Electrification as Needs Served -- The Traditional Electrification Ladder Approach and Its Weaknesses -- Measuring Electrification by Its Attributes -- Measuring Electrification: From Theory to Practice -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3 The Regulation of Small Power Producers and Mini-Grids: An Overview -- Abstract -- What Is Regulation? -- Three Types of Regulatory Decisions That Affect SPPs.

The Importance of Regulatory Process -- Light-Handed Regulation: When It Works and When It Doesn't -- To Regulate or Deregulate? A Specific Example -- Who Should Regulate SPPs and Mini-Grids? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 4 Regulatory Processes and Approvals: Who Approves What, When, and How? -- Abstract -- The Key Approvals Required: Electricity Sector-Specific versus General Approvals -- A Successful Example: The Regulatory Process in Sri Lanka -- Should Resale of Provisional Approvals, Final Permits, or Licenses Be Allowed? -- Licensing: Does the SPP Have a Legal Right to Exist? -- Recommended Characteristics of a Good Regulatory Review and Approval System -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 5 The Regulatory Treatment of Subsidies, Carbon Credits, and Advance Payments -- Abstract -- Types and Sources of Subsidies Available to SPPs and Their Customers -- Regulating Subsidies: The Key Recommendation -- Subsidies for Connection Charges and Costs -- Cross-Subsidies in Tariffs -- Revenues Earned from Carbon Credits through the Clean Development Mechanism or Other Carbon Credit Programs -- Advance Payments to Close the Equity Gap -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 6 Regulatory Decisions for Grid-Connected Small Power Producers -- Abstract -- Comparing the Purchase Agreements of SPPs and Independent Producers -- Should the Power-Purchase Agreement Include a "Deemed Energy" Clause? -- Tariffs for Backup Power Purchased by the SPP -- Should the SPP Have the Option of Not Entering a Backup Capacity Contract? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 7 Grid-Connected SPPs: Creating Workable Feed-In Tariffs -- Abstract -- What Are Feed-In Tariffs? -- The Two Principal Methods for Setting FITs in Developing Countries -- Local Currency versus Hard Currency -- Major FIT Implementation Questions and Issues -- Who Should Pay the Extra Costs of FITs?.

Donor Top-Ups of FITs -- Walking Up the Renewable Energy Supply Curve: A Recommended Strategy -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 8 The Technical and Economic Rules Governing Grid-Integration Interconnections and Operations -- Abstract -- Basic Terms and Concepts -- Standardizing the Process for SPPs to Interconnect to a National or Regional Grid -- Scope of the Engineering Standards for Interconnection -- Paying for Interconnection Costs -- Successful Integration of SPPs into the Grid: Technical and Commercial Requirements -- Factors to Consider When Connecting to an Isolated Mini-Grid with Existing Diesel Generators -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 9 Regulatory Decisions for Small Power Producers Serving Retail Customers: Tariffs and Quality of Service -- Abstract -- Setting Retail Tariff Levels: Concepts and Cases -- Cost-Reflective Tariffs for Isolated SPPs: How Can the Cost-Revenue Gap Be Closed? -- What Can a Regulator Do to Promote the Commercial Viability of Isolated Mini-Grids? -- Tariff Levels for Community-Owned SPPs -- Setting Tariff Structures: Concepts and Cases -- Should Tariffs Be Prepaid or Postpaid? -- Alternatives to Setting Retail Tariffs on a Case-by-Case Basis -- Setting Quality-of-Service Standards -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 10 When the Big Grid Connects to a Little Grid -- Abstract -- From Broad Strategy to Ground-Level Implementation -- Recommendations for When the Big Grid Arrives -- The Fate of Physical Assets in Each Option -- Creating a Viable SPD Option -- The Importance of the Distribution Margin -- Transitioning from an Isolated to a Main Grid SPP: Technical Issues -- The Technical Requirements of Shifting from Isolated to Grid-Connected Operation -- Islanding -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 11 Final Thoughts -- Abstract -- What Else Is Required for a Successful SPP Program? -- To Regulate or Not to Regulate?.

Where to Go from Here -- Notes -- References -- Appendix A Hybrid Small Power Producers -- What Are Hybrid Power Systems? -- Should Hybrid SPPs on Isolated Mini-Grids Be Allowed? -- Should Grid-Connected Hybrid SPPs Be Allowed? -- Notes -- References -- Appendix B Conversion of Flat Monthly Charges to per-kWh Charges -- Appendix C Technical and Commercial Quality-of-Service Standards in Rural and Urban Areas of Peru -- Quality of Supply and Quality of Product -- Quality of Commercial Service -- Reference -- Appendix D Calculating the Effect of Cost-Reflective Technology-Specific Feed-In Tariffs on Retail Tariffs -- Sri Lanka -- Thailand -- References -- Appendix E Evaluation of Risk Allocation in a Power-Purchase Agreement for a Mini-Hydro Project in Rwanda -- Appendix F Feed-In Tariff Case Studies: Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and South Africa -- Tanzania's Feed-In Tariffs -- Sri Lanka's Feed-In Tariffs -- South Africa's Feed-In Tariffs and Competitive Procurements -- Notes -- References -- Appendix G Topping Up Feed-In Tariffs by Donors: Key Implementation Issues -- Eligible Renewable Technologies -- Uniform versus Particularized Top-Ups -- Disbursement -- Selection -- Relationship to Carbon Credits -- Top-Up, Buy-Down, or Both? -- Extra Top-Up for Electrification? -- Guarantees of Payment -- Concessional versus Market Financing for Equity and Debt -- References -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Regulatory and Policy Documents from Countries with Small Power Producer Programs -- Reports, Studies, and Presentations -- Other Works or Communications Referenced -- Boxes -- Figures -- Tables -- Back Cover.