In an innovative, cogent, and very readable book, Sarmila Bose examines rural electrification in India in the context of the technological transformation of rural economies in developing countries. The author first demonstrates the conceptual weaknesses of the traditional paradigm of the rural energy sector and replaces it with a new conceptual framework based on the use or non-use of money.

This is followed by an examination of rural electrification policy in India at three levels. First, at the level of the state, the book scrutinizes the institutional structures and their effectiveness in planning, financing, implementing, and monitoring policy at the central and state levels. Both the organization and reported achievements of rural electrification are shown to suffer from serious flaws.

Next, at the level of the household, the book focuses on the customers of electrification, who should be the central concern of policy but are so often ignored or regarded as passive recipients. Using a rare household dataset, qualitative response techniques are applied for the first time to assess what factors determine the household choice of electrification.

Finally, at the level of the individual, the book investigates whether rural women have benefited from household electrification as claimed by policy rhetoric in India and other countries. Clear recommendations for policy change are made for each level. This book is of special interest to scholars and specialists in the energy sector and rural development, and to the general reader interested in public policy.