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This paper focuses on the governance issues that need to be addressed in order to make progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 on access to energy. The starting point of the analysis is the observation of major problems of governance in the electricity grids of countries lagging behind in access to electricity. These governance problems, which entail high costs for grid users, are part of Elinor Ostrom’s interpretation of the tragedy of the commons. Mini-grid projects are a realistic response to these challenges, since their technical and economic feasibility has been enhanced in recent years by advances in electricity generation from renewable sources. Polycentric governance, as envisaged by Elinor Ostrom, would resolve the tragedy of the commons. Some lessons learnt from recent rural electrification projects help identify the key factors for the success of such projects.JEL Codes: L94, O18, Q42.