Inside Pages9Final.indd - Ministry of Power

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MINISTRY OF POWER
• Twenty four states viz. Orissa, Haryana, Andhra
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal,
Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Assam,
Chhatisgarh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala,
Tripura, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya
have either constituted or notified the constitution of
State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
• Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has been
notified for Mizoram and Manipur.
• Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has also been
notified for Union Territories (except Delhi).
• Twenty SERCs viz. Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh,
West Bengal, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttaranchal,
Jharkhand, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Tripura have
issued tariff orders.
Tariff Policy
Tariff Policy has been notified by the Government of India
on 6th January, 2006 under the provisions of section 3 of
the Electricity Act, 2003.
The objectives of the tariff policy are to:
a) Ensure availability of electricity to consumers at
reasonable and competitive rates;
b) Ensure financial viability of the sector and attract
investments;
c) Promote transparency, consistency and predictability
in regulatory approaches across jurisdictions and
minimise perceptions of regulatory risks;
d) Promote competition, efficiency in operations and
improvement in quality of supply.
Review of the Electricity Act, 2003
In pursuance of provisions of the National Common
Minimum Programme (NCMP) that a review of the Act
would be undertaken, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill,
2005 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 23.12.2005.
The provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 which are to be
amended are as under:
Chapter - 5
Status of Power Sector Reforms
• The concerned State Governments and the Central
Government shall jointly endeavour to provide access
to electricity to all areas including villages and hamlets
through rural electricity infrastructure and electrification
of households.
• To delete ‘elimination’ of cross subsidies as elimination
of cross subsidies is not intended in the near future.
The provision for reduction of cross subsidies would
continue.
• The police would be able to investigate the cognizable
offences under the Act and that no prosecution shall
be instituted for any offence under the Act except at the
instance of the appropriate Government or appropriate
Commission or authorized persons. Special Courts
constituted under the Act will be able to take cognizance
of offences without the accused being committed to
them for trial.
Appellate Tribunal for Electricity
• The Central Government has made the Appellate
Tribunal for Electricity operational w.e.f. 21st July,
2005.
• The Appellate Tribunal has started hearing appeals
against orders of the Regulatory Commissions/
Adjudicating Officers.
Regional Power Committees
Regional Power Committees have been established under
Section 2(55) of the Electricity Act, 2003 separately for
five regions w.e.f. 29th November, 2005 for facilitating
the integrated operation of the power system in these
regions.
Electricity Rules, 2005
The Central Government has notified Electricity Rules,
2005 on 8th June, 2005 which carry provisions related to
Captive Generating Plants, Consumer Redressal Forum
and Ombudsman, Tariff of Generating Companies etc.
Forum of Regulators
Forum of Regulators have been constituted under section
166(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 on 16th February, 2005.
The Forum shall discharge, interalia, functions viz. analysis
of tariff orders and other orders of CERC and SERCs