in india household connection rates are four times higher in villages serviced by energy cooperatives than in villages served by the state electricity board ilo energy cooperatives operate for example in bangladesh cambodia south sudan and uganda bangladeshs programme inspired by the united states model box is considered one of the most successful in the developing world subsidies and grants play a significant role in setting up such cooperatives however most ldcs have limited capacity for electricity regulation reflecting both a lack of staff with the requisite skills and experience and financial constraints since high development costs and low profit margins deterred investorowned utilities from expansion into rural areas as in ldcs today most rural electrification occurred through consumerowned notforprofit electric cooperatives