The near-quadrupling of milk procurement by dairy cooperatives in Gujarat over the last 15 years from an average of 45 lakh litres to about 170 lakh litres per day has been attributed no less to a single factor: 24-hour power in rural areas, including guaranteed three-phase supply for eight hours, enabling village-level societies to install bulk milk coolers (BMC). These, with capacities ranging from 1, 000 to 10, 000 litres, chill the milk to around 4 degrees celsius at the primary collection point itself, inhibiting microbial growth that can lead to undesirable qualitytaste changes and expedite spoilage.