1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 2 Micro Hydro Power Technology .................................................................................... 5 3 Common Property Perspective of Community-Managed Micro Hydels..................... 8 3.1 Micro Hydro Power and the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ ............................... 8 3.2 CPR-Characteristics of Community-Managed Micro Hydels ............................ 9 3.3 Implications on Research Questions ......................................................11 4 Local Setting: Chitral District....................................................................................... 13 4.1 Overview......................................................................................13 4.2 Natural Hazards..............................................................................13 4.3 Cultural Complexity.........................................................................14 4.4 Indigenous Resource Management ........................................................16 4.5 Electricity Supply............................................................................17 5 Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and its Micro Hydel Projects......... 19 5.1 AKRSP’s Structure and Areas of Operation ..............................................19 5.2 Community Organisation and Productive Physical Infrastructure ...................20 5.3 Micro Hydel Programme ....................................................................21 5.3.1 Community Involvement ............................................................................ 21 5.3.2 Technology, Operation and Maintenance ........................................................ 23 5.3.3 Impacts ................................................................................................ 24 6 Methodology.................................................................................................................. 27 7 Working Micro Hydels .................................................................................................. 30 7.1 Attributes of the Electricity ...............................................................30 7.1.1 Community Electricity .............................................................................. 30 7.1.2 Electricity by Alternative Providers............................................................... 32 7.2 Electric Management Committee .........................................................35 7.2.1 Responsibilities ....................................................................................... 35 7.2.2 Classification ......................................................................................... 36 7.2.3 Conflicts ............................................................................................... 42 7.3 Communal Work .............................................................................44 7.4 Financial Mechanisms.......................................................................48 7.4.1 Billing Policy .......................................................................................... 48 7.4.2 Financial Complexity ................................................................................ 51 7.4.3 Financial Profitability ............................................................................... 54 7.4.4 Maintenance Fund ................................................................................... 59 7.5 Operation .....................................................................................62 7.6 Synopsis .......................................................................................65 8 Abandoned Micro Hydels............................................................................................. 67 9 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 72 References 75