State Energy and Climate Index

States are the effective units of governance in India. They come under different jurisdictions, have varied sizes and populations, and offer varying levels of access and affordability to basic services such as electricity. In an endeavour to monitor progress with the intent to improve the well-being of people through economic growth, this dashboard is an important step towards a more transparent energy system. It is the result of the State Energy and Climate Index (SECI), a collaborative initiative by CSE and SECI partners such as States, Ministries of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Climate Change, industry associations etc.

State Energy and Climate Index:

The SECI is based on outcomes of a survey administered to each Government of Indian State in late 2014. 

The survey covered 15 indicators in three broad areas: 

1) energy access, 

2) environmental sustainability, and 

3) clean energy initiatives. 

The survey identified two aspects: 

1) for each of the three areas (i.e. energy access, environmental sustainability and clean energy initiatives), the ‘outcomes’ to be measured are the changes in the indicators over time and the states’ performance vis-à-vis other states in this regard; and 

2) performance on each outcome is to be gauged by a single indicator, which is to reflect a comparable picture across all states on that given indicator.

Environmental sustainability:

The SECI survey and the dashboard thus provide a comprehensive picture of the status of the state’s progress towards environmental sustainability, although it has some shortcomings. The survey was not able to get complete data on all indicators, especially in the area of environmental sustainability; and some of the states have relied on projections while reporting their achievements in clean energy initiatives. CSE has worked with its SECI partners, a group which includes all State Governments, Ministries of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Climate Change, industry associations etc. to design the survey instrument and to conduct a rigorous data collection effort. In doing so, it has extensively used prior knowledge and existing databases on each of the indicators, such as data from CEA, NITI Aayog, DISCOMs etc. The survey questionnaire was designed by a group of experts led by CSE. A dashboard is an important tool for CSE’s advocacy efforts that aim to ensure that India follows an energy pathway that is both environmentally sustainable and inclusive.

Energy Access:

The dashboard presents a comprehensive picture of the state’s progress on energy access and affordability.

A dashboard is an important tool for CSE’s advocacy efforts that aim to ensure that India follows an energy pathway that is both environmentally sustainable and inclusive.

Access affordability:

The SECI survey has been used for many years by various ministries, statutory organisations and non-government groups in India. The SECI survey is an important advocacy tool for CSE. The indicator for access affordability in the SECI generally highlights the fact that there are fewer grid-connected households than off-grid ones. In more than half of the States, grid-connected households account for less than 60 per cent of all electrified households.

Sector affordability:

In India, there is not an easy way to measure sector affordability, even though it is a vital aspect of energy access. CSE has worked with its SECI partners, a group which includes all State Governments, Ministries of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Climate Change, industry associations etc. to design the survey instrument and to conduct a rigorous data collection effort. In doing so, it has extensively used prior knowledge and existing databases on each of the indicators, such as data from CEA, NITI Aayog, DISCOMs etc. The survey questionnaire was designed by a group of experts led by CSE.

Clean Energy Initiatives:

The long-term objective of NITI Aayog’s ‘National Solar Mission is to make India a solar energy country. The initial phase ended in March 2013 intending to augment installed solar power capacity to 100 GW by 2022, but the mission is expected to continue for at least another five years. India also has an ambitious target under the ‘National Wind Energy Mission’, which seeks to raise the installed wind power capacity to 1000 GW by 2022. The SECI survey has been able to capture the achievements of states against these targets. As per the data collected by CSE through SECI, India is set to miss its target under the ‘National Solar Mission’ by a wide margin. The ‘National Wind Energy Mission’ target looks achievable. Under this mission, most states have lagged in achieving their targets except five which are setting impressive records and have a clear lead over other states.

Conclusion: 

The central government decided to launch SECI to promote good governance and accountable administration. The SECI survey comprised close to a hundred questions on the following aspects:

• energy access, including a comprehensive set of data on household electrification, performance against the targets set for 2013-14 and initiatives taken by it; 
• environmental sustainability, including a comprehensive set of data for each state on their power consumption mix and renewable energy targets, concerning its population;

•clean energy initiatives, including information on its performance in implementation of national solar mission and wind power mission and other initiatives undertaken.