Electricity Act 2003 and Regulations 2010 [DIPLOMA IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY]

ELECTRICITY ACT

The Electricity Act came into force on 23^rd May 2003.

An Act to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking measures conducive to development of electricity industry, promoting competition therein, protecting interest of consumers and supply of electricity to all areas, rationalization of electricity tariff, ensuring transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies, constitution of Central Electricity Authority, Regulatory Commissions and establishment of Appellate Tribunal and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Electricity Act consists of 18 Parts and 185 Sections

PART I – PRELIMINARY [SECTION 1 & 2]

PART II – NATIONAL ELECTRICITY POLICY AND PLAN [SECTION 3 TO 6]

PART III – GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY [SECTION 7 TO 11]

PART IV – LICENSING [SECTION 12 TO 24]

PART V – TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY [SECTION 25 TO 41]

PART VI – DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY [SECTION 42 TO 60]

PART VII – TARIFF [SECTION 61 TO 66]

PART VIII – WORKS [SECTION 67 TO 69]

PART IX – CENTRAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY [SECTION 70 TO 75]

PART X – REGULATORY COMMISSIONS [SECTION 76 TO 109]

PART XI – APPELLANT TRIBURNAL FOR ELECTRICITY [SECTION 110 TO 125]

PART XII – INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT [SECTION 126 TO 130]

PART XIII – REORGANISAITON OF BOARD [SECTION 131 TO 134]

PART XIV – OFFENCES AND PENALITIES [SECTION 135 TO 152]

PART XV – SPECIAL COURTS [SECTION 153 TO 157]

PART XVI – DISPUTE RESOLUTION [SECTION 158]

PART XVII – OTHER PROVISIONS [SECTION 159 TO 165]

PART XVIII – MISCELLANEOUS [SECTION 166 TO 185]

 

SAFETY, HEALTH ENVIRONMENT (SHE) PROVISIONS

SECTION 53: PROVISIONS RELATING TO SAFETY AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

The Authority may in consultation with the State Government, specify suitable measures for

(a) protecting the public (including the persons engaged in the generation, transmission or distribution or trading) from dangers arising from the generation, transmission or distribution or trading of electricity, or use of electricity supplied or reducing the risks of personal injury to any person, or damage to property.

(b) eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury to any person, or damage to property of any person or interference with use of such property.

(c) prohibiting the supply or transmission of electricity except by means of a system which conforms to the specification.

(d) giving notice in the specified form to the Appropriate Commission and the Electrical Inspector, of accidents and failures of supplies or transmissions of electricity.

(e) keeping by a generating company or licensee the maps, plans and sections relating to supply or transmission of electricity.

(f) inspection of maps, plans and sections by any person authorised by it or by Electrical Inspector or by any person on payment of specified fee.

(g) specifying action to be taken in relation to any electric line or electrical plant, or any electrical appliance under the control of a consumer for the purpose of eliminating or reducing the risk of personal injury or damage to property or interference with its use.

SECTION 73: FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF CENTRAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (CEA)

a)    Advice the central government on matters related to policy, plan for development of electricity system, coordinate the activities of planning agencies and to provide reliable and affordable electricity for all consumers.

b)   Advice the appropriate government, commission on technical matters.

c)    Specify technical standards for construction of electrical plants, lines, and grid connectivity.

d)   Specify safety requirements for constructions operations and maintenance of electrical plants and lines.

e)    Grid standards.

f)     Assist in timely completion of scheme and projects for improving and augmenting the system.

g)    To collect and record data.

h)   To promote research in connected matters

i)     To carry out any investigation for the purpose of generating or transmitting or distributing electricity.

 

SECTION 79: FUNCTION OF CENTRAL COMMISSION

a)    To regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by central govt. and other generating companies if enter into a sale of electricity in more than one state.

b)   To regulate the inter-state transmission of electricity

c)   To issue licenses to persons to functions as transmission licenses and electricity traders.

d) To adjudicate upon disputes involving generating companies/transmission licenses.

e)   To specify and enforce standards w.r.t quality, continuity and reliability of services by licences.

 

INDIAN ELECTRICITY RULES 1956

The Indian Electricity (IE) Rules, 1956 was made under section 37 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and redefined after enactment of The Electricity Act, 2003. CEAR namely Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 came into effect from 20th September 2010, in place of The Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

THE CENTRAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (MEASURES RELATING TO SAFETY AND ELECTRIC SUPPLY) REGULATION 2010 AND AMENDMENT 2015.

REGULATION NO.05 ELECTRICAL SAFETY OFFICER

(1) All suppliers of electricity including generating companies, transmission companies and distribution companies shall designate an Electrical Safety Officer for ensuring observance of safety measures specified under these regulations in their organisation for construction, operation and maintenance of power stations, sub-stations, transmission and distribution lines.

(2) The Electrical Safety Officer shall be an Electrical Engineering degree holder with at least ten years of experience in operation and maintenance of electricity plants or an Electrical Engineering Diploma holder with at least fifteen years of experience in operation and maintenance of electric plant.

(3) The Electrical Safety Officer designated shall ensure periodic inspection of such installations, get them tested and keep a record thereof and such records shall be made available to the Electrical Inspector if and when Required.

(4) For every factory registered under Factory Act, l948, where more than 250kW of electrical load is connected, the management of the factory shall designate a person having qualification specified in sub-regulation (2), for ensuring the observance of the safety provisions laid under the Act and the regulations made there under, who shall periodically inspect such installation, get them tested and keep a record thereof and such records shall be made available to the Electrical Inspector if and when required.

REGULATION NO. 12. GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, PERTAINING TO CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION, PROTECTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES APPARATUS

a)    All electric supply lines and apparatus of sufficient power, insulation, estimated fault current and mechanical strength shall be so constructed, installed, protected, worked and maintained as to ensure the safety of humans beings, animals and property.

b)   The relevant code of practices of the Bureau of Indian Standards including the National Electrical Code if any may be followed.

REGULATION 13. SERVICE LINES AND APPARATUS ON CONSUMER’S PREMISES

a)    The supplier to ensure that electric supply lines, wires, fittings and apparatus at the consumer’s premises are in safe-condition and fit for supplying electricity.

b)   Underground service lines (armoured cables) placed by the supplier on the premises shall be so insulated and protected against electrical, mechanical, chemical or other injury to the insulation.

REGULATION 15: IDENTIFICATION OF EARTHED AND EARTHED NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR AND POSITION OF SWITCHES AND SWITCHGEARS THEREIN

An identification of permanent nature shall be provided by the owner of the earthed or neutral conductor, or the conductor which is to be connected, to enable such conductor to be distinguished from any live conductor.

REGULATION 16: EARTHED TERMINAL ON 

CONSUMER'S PREMISES

The supplier shall provide and maintain on the consumer’s premises a suitable earthed terminal in an accessible position at or near the point of commencement of supply.

REGULATION 17: ACCESSIBILITY OF BARE CONDUCTORS

a)    Where bare conductors are used in building, the owner of such conductors shall ensure that they are inaccessible.

b)   Provide in readily accessible position switch for rendering them dead whenever necessary and take such other safety measures as are considered necessary as specified in the relevant Indian Standard

REGULATION 18: DANGER NOTICES

The owner of every installation exceeding 250V shall affix permanently in a conspicuous position a danger notice in Hindi or English and the local language of the district, with a sign of skull and bones of a design as per the relevant standard on every motor, transformer, generator, and other electrical plant and equipment. (BIS No: 2551)

REGULATION19: HANDLING OF ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES AND APPARATUS

a)    Before any conductor or apparatus is handled, adequate precautions shall be taken, by earthing or suitable means, to discharge electrically such conductors or apparatus.

b)   Every person who is working on an electric supply line or apparatus shall be provided with tools and devices such as gloves, rubber shoes, safety belts, ladders, earthing devices, helmets, line tester for protecting him from mechanical and electrical injury.

c)    No person shall work on any live electric supply line or apparatus unless he is designated in that behalf and takes the safety measures.

d)   All non-current carrying metal parts of switchgear and control panels shall be properly earthed and insulating floors or mats conforming to IS-15652:2006 of appropriate voltage level be provided in front of the panels for safety of operating personnel.

REGULATION 20: SUPPLY TO VEHICLES, CRANES ETC.

Every person owning a vehicle, travelling crane to which energy is supplied from an external source, shall ensure that it is efficiently controlled by a suitable switch enabling all voltages to be cut off in one operation and that it is ensured that the body /rails are electrically continuous and earthed.

REGULATION 21: CABLES FOR PORTABLE OR TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS

Flexible cables shall not be used for portable or transportable motors, generators, transformers, rectifiers, electric drills, welding sets etc. unless they are heavily insulated and adequately protected from mechanical injury. The cables shall be three-core type and four-core type for portable and transportable apparatus working on single phase and three phase respectively and the wire meant to be used for ground connection shall be easily identifiable.

REGULATION 26: ACCIDENTAL CHARGING:

a)    The owners of all circuits and apparatus shall arrange them that there shall be no danger of any part thereof becoming accidentally charged to any voltage beyond the limits of voltage for which they are intended.

b)   Where A.C. and D.C. circuits are installed on the same support they shall be so arranged and protected that they shall not come into contact with each other when live.

REGULATION 27: PROVISIONS APPLICABBLE TO PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS

a)    Fire buckets filled with clean dry sand and ready for immediate use for extinguishing fires, fire extinguishers suitable for dealing with electrical fires to be kept in all generating stations, enclosed substations and switch stations in convenient situations.

b)   Fire extinguishers shall be tested for satisfactory operations as per relevant Indian Standard at least once a year and record of such tests shall be maintained.

c)    First-aid boxes or cupboards equipped with such contents as specified by the State Government shall be provided and maintained in every generating stations, enclosed sub-station and enclosed switching station .

d)   Two or more gas masks shall be provided and maintained at accessible places in every generating station and enclosed sub-station with a capacity of 5 MW and 5 MVA respectively.

REGULATION 28: DISPLAY OF INSTRUCTION FOR RESTORATION OF PERSONS SUFFERING FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK

a)    Instructions in English or Hindi and the local language of the district and where Hindi is a local language, for the restoration of persons suffering from electric shock, shall be affixed by the owner in a conspicuous place in every generating station, enclosed sub-station, enclosed switch- station and in every factory 

b)   Every generating station, sub-station or switching station of voltage exceeding 650 volts an artificial respirator shall be provided and kept in good working condition

REGULATION 29: PRECAUTION TO BE ADOPTED BY CONSUMERS, OWNERS, OCCUPIERS, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, ELECTRICAL WORKMEN AND SUPPLIERS

a)    No electrical installation work, alteration, repairs and adjustments to existing installation except replacement of lamps, fans, fuses, switches, low voltage domestic appliances and fittings as in no way alters its capacity shall be carried except by an licensed electrical contractor under the supervision of the person holding certificate of competency.

b)   No electrical installation work in contravention of sub-rule (1) shall either be energized or connected to the works of any supplier.

REGULATION 33: PRECAUTION AGAINST LEAKAGE BEFORE CONNECTION

a)    All equipment's shall have the insulation resistance (IR) valve as stipulated in the relevant Indian Standard.

b)   On application of 500 V DC between each live conductor and earth for a period of one minute the IR values for installations and equipment for voltages not exceeding 650 Volts shall be at least 1 Mega Ohm or as specified in the relevant Indian Standard.

c)    On application of 2500 V DC between each live conductor and earth for a period of one minute the IR values for installation and equipment for voltages exceeding 650 Volts but not exceeding 330KV shall be at least 5 Mega Ohm or as specified in the relevant Indian Standard.

REGULATION NO. 42. EARTH LEAKAGE PROTECTIVE DEVICE

The supply of electricity to every electrical installation other than voltage not exceeding 250 V below 5 kW and those installations of voltage not exceeding 250 V which do not attract provisions of section 54 of the Act, shall be controlled by an earth leakage protective device so as to disconnect the supply instantly on the occurrence of earth fault or leakage of current.
 
REGULATION NO. 55. MATERIAL AND STRENGTH (OVERHEAD LINES, UNDERGROUND CABLES AND GENERATING STATIONS)
(1) All conductors of overhead lines other than those specified in regulation 68 shall have a breaking strength of not less than 350 kg.
(2) Where the voltage does not exceed 250 V and the span is of less than fifteen metres and is drawn through the owner's or consumer's premises, a conductor having an actual breaking strength of not less than 150 kg may be used.
 
REGULATION NO. 58. CLEARANCE ABOVE GROUND OF THE LOWEST CONDUCTOR OF OVERHEAD LINES

No conductor of an overhead line, including service lines, erected across a street shall at any part thereof be at a height of less than-
 (i) for lines of voltage not exceeding 650 Volts - 5.8 meters
(ii) for lines of voltage exceeding 650 Volts but not exceeding 33 kV - 6.1 meters
 
REGULATION NO.73: SAFETY AND PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Every overhead line Which is not being suspended from a dead bearer wire, not being covered with insulating material and not being a trolley-wire, is erected over any part of a street or other public place or in any factory or mine or on any consumer's premises shall be protected with earth gaurding for rendering the line electrically harmless in case it breaks.

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