An iterative convergence procedure for electrification planning, regulation, and finance to achieve universal access

Abstract

Universal electrification does not fail because countries lack least-cost techno-economic plans. It fails when those plans cannot be translated into affordable, financeable, and sustainable business models.This paper develops an iterative convergence procedure linking rollout planning, regulatory and business design, and financeability assessment. It combines an information exchange matrix with a convergence algorithm to trace how implementation constraints feed back into earlier decisions and to distinguish revisions that can be handled within the existing least-cost plan from those that require re-planning. Zambia-based examples illustrate both cases. The framework provides a practical reference for turning access strategies into implementable programs.