Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of public policy and administration, Faculty of Public Administration and Organizational Science, College of Management, University of Tehran, tehran, iran
2
Department of public policy and administration, Faculty of Public Administration and Organizational Science, College of Management, University of Tehran, tehran. iran
3
Department of public policy and administration, Faculty of Public Administration and Organizational Science, College of Management, University of Tehran
4
Electrical Engineering , Power Systems Planning and Operation, Electrical Engineering Shahid Beheshti, Tehran,, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.416929.2912
Abstract
Energy is the foundation of development, and effective governance requires balancing security, equity, and environmental sustainability, the "energy trilemma." However, a deep gap exists between these goals and operational realities in Iran's energy sector. This study uses thematic analysis of 14 upstream documents and 22 expert interviews to compare ideal and actual functions in the electricity sector. Findings show that beyond instrumental inadequacy, six macro-functions have become survival-oriented dysfunctions, including supply security becoming regressive quality adjustment, regulation becoming monopolistic gatekeeping, and productivity becoming forced distribution of imbalance. This deviation stems from the dominance of practical and substantive rationality in the implementation field over theoretical and formal rationality in the documents, shifting the system toward emergency management. Based on the two identified gaps, reforms such as independent oversight, negawatt market, dynamic pricing, renewable potential mapping, and carbon trading are proposed.
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