BUDGET - BMR Advisors

Policy developmentsElectricity (Amendment) Act, 2007An important policy initiative was taken by amending theElectricity Act.The Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2007, amended certainprovisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 which were enacted onMay 29, 2007 and further and brought into force with effect fromJune 15, 2007.The main features of the Amendment Act are:• Central Government, jointly with State Governments, toendeavor to provide access to electricity to all areasincluding villages and hamlets through rural electricityinfrastructure and electrification of house-holds• No License required for sale from captive units• Deletion of the provision for elimination of cross- subsidies.The provision for reduction of cross subsidies wouldcontinue• Definition of theft expanded to cover use of tamperedmeters and use for unauthorized purpose. Theft madeexplicitly cognizable and non-bailableRules under Electricity Act, 2003The Central Government has issued the following Rules underthe Electricity Act, 2003 during this year.• The Central Government has notified Appellate Tribunal forElectricity (Procedure, Form, Fee and Record ofProceedings) Rules, 2007 on January 22, 2007, which havereplaced the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Form,Verification and Fee for filing an appeal) Rules, 2004 notifiedon April 13, 2004• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Fund(Constitution and the manner of application, of the Fund)and Form and Time for Preparation of Budget Rules, 2007notified on October 22, 2007indiaBUDGET200819