At the request of the Ministry of Power (MoP), CSTEP collaborated with Infosys to update the 2002 IT Task Force Report for the Power Sector. The revised report, titled Technology: Enabling the Transformation of Power Distribution, was published in 2008 and marked CSTEP’s first publication. It highlighted the potential of digital technologies to transform India’s struggling power distribution sector into an efficient, consumer-centric, and financially sustainable system.   CSTEP played a critical role in analysing the intersection of technology, business needs, and policy frameworks, emphasising that IT alone was not sufficient to drive meaningful reforms. The report advocated interoperable, future-ready smart grid systems, with recommendations tailored to each utility’s unique maturity and business context.   CSTEP’s contribution was crucial in highlighting the importance of strategic technology adoption, programme management, the integration of IT with communication and automation technologies, which are collectively referred to as digital technologies.   Importantly, the report stressed that the transformation should be holistic and systemic, involving not just technical upgrades but also governance reform, capacity building, and consumer engagement. CSTEP helped shape a long-term vision where digitally empowered utilities use advanced metering, Geographic Information System (GIS), and network management tools to reduce losses, enable real-time monitoring, and support renewable integration.   The report helped chart a roadmap that reflected India’s evolving energy landscape and, in doing so, positioned CSTEP as a thought leader in powering this change.   CSTEP also highlighted the need for the creation of a national institution to lead this transformation, offering coordinated guidance on technology standards, financial viability, policy alignment, and innovation.