This political economic analysis (PEA) examines the current planning and decision-making approach, actors, relationships, interests, and power dynamics in the power development subsector. This requires systematically analyzing and evaluating the Power Development Plan processes in each CLMTV country and evaluating or benchmarking them against acceptable international practices for integrated planning.

Each country is different in its approach to planning, so seven criteria pertaining to integrated resource planning are used to compare national efforts against good international practices. These criteria are load forecasting and energy efficiency, demand-side management, scenarios, generation expansion plan, transmission expansion plan, externalities, and stakeholder consultations. CLMTV countries share common yet differentiated energy security and environmental management concerns. Lao PDR and Myanmar have rich energy resources and aspire to generate revenue through export to neighboring countries to meet their socio-economic development needs. For other countries, growing reliance on energy imports is raising energy security concerns. Doubling or tripling in energy consumption is expected for these countries over the next 15 to 20 years, further compounding the problem.