Licensing of Transmission,
Distribution and Supply
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| Licensing.- |
(1) No person, other than
those authorised to do so by license or by virtue of exemption under
this Act or authorised to or exempted by any other authority under
the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (Central Act No. 54 of 1948),
shall engage in the State in the business of,-
Transmitting electricity;
or
Distributing and supplying electricity.
(2) Where any question arises as to whether any person is engaged
or about to engage in the business of transmitting, distributing
or supplying electricity as specified in sub-section (1), the matter
shall be referred to the Commission and the decision of the Commission
shall be final.
(3) The Commission shall order
any unlicensed person to discontinue transmission, distribution
or supply, as the case may be, of electricity.
(4) Notwithstanding anything
contained in any other provisions of this Act and until the establishment
of the Commission in terms of section 3, the State Government shall
have the power to grant provisional licenses under this section
having a duration not exceeding twelve months to any person or persons
to engage in the State in the business of transmission, distribution
and supply of electricity on such terms and conditions as the State
Government may determine consistent with the provisions of this
Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:-
Upon the establishment of
the Commission, each of the provisional licenses granted by the
State Government shall be placed before the Commission and shall
be deemed to constitute an application for grant of a license by
the Commission under the provisions of this Act; and
Each provisional license granted under this section shall cease
to be valid from the date notified by the Commission.
(5) The State Government shall be empowered to confer on the provisional
licensees to whom licenses have been granted under sub-section (4)
such powers, rights and authorization as the Commission is entitled
to grant to the licensees under this Act.
(6) The Commission shall exercise
all powers and functions under the Act in regard to any provisional
license granted under sub-section (4) in the same manner as in the
case of a license under Section 18 of this Act.
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| Grant of licenses by the Commission.- |
(1)
The Commission may, on an application made in prescribed form and
on payment of the prescribed fee, grant a license to any person
to,-
Transmit electricity in a specified area of transmission; or
Distribute and supply electricity in a specified area of supply
including bulk supply to licensees or any person.
(2) In respect of every such license and the grant thereof the
following procedure shall have effect, namely:-
(a) Any person applying for a license under this Part shall publish
a notice of his application in prescribed manner, and with prescribed
particulars and the license shall not be granted,-
(i until all objections received by the Commission with reference
thereto have been considered by it :
Provided that no objection shall be so considered unless it is
received before the expiration of one month from the date of the
first publication of such notice as aforesaid; and
(ii until, in the case of an application for a license for an
area including the whole or any part of any cantonment, aerodrome,
fortress, arsenal, or camp or of any building or place in the
occupation of the Central Government for defense purposes, the
Commission has ascertained that there is no objection to the grant
of the license on the part of the Central Government;
(B) where an objection is received from any local authority concerned,
the Commission shall, if in its opinion the objection is insufficient,
record in writing and communicate to such local authority its
reason for such opinion;
(C) no application for a license under this Part shall be made
by any local authority except in pursuance of a resolution passed
at a meeting of such authority held after notice of the same and
of the purpose thereof has been given in the manner in which notices
of meeting of such local authority are usually given;
(D) a license under this Part,-
(i may prescribe such terms as to the limits within which, and
the conditions under which, the supply of energy is to be compulsorily
or permissible, and generally as to such matters as the Commission
may think fit; and
(ii save in cases in which under section 10, clause (b) of the
Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central Act No. 9 of 1910), the
provisions of section 5 and 6, or either of them, have been declared
not to apply, every such license shall declare whether any generating
station to be used in connection with the undertaking shall or
shall not form part of the undertaking for the purpose of purchase
under section 5 or 6 of Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central
Act No. 9 of 1910);
(E) the grant of a license under this part for any purpose shall
not in any way hinder or restrict the grant of a license to another
person within the same area for like purpose.
(F) the provisions contained in the Schedule to the Indian Electricity
Act, 1910 (Central Act No.9 of 1910) shall be deemed to be incorporated
with, and to form part of, every license granted under this Part,
save in so far as they are expressly added to, varied or expected
by the license, and shall, subject to any such additions, variations
or exception which the State Government is hereby empowered to
make, apply to the undertaking authorised by the license:
Provided that where a license is granted in accordance with the
provisions of Clause IX of the Schedule for the supply of energy
to other licensees for distribution by them, then so for as such
license relates to such supply, the provisions of Clauses IV,
V, VI, VII, VIII and XII of the Schedule shall not be deemed to
be incorporated with the license.
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Exemptions
from the requirement to have a license.- |
(1)
The Commission may by order grant exemption from the requirement
to have a supply license, but subject to compliance with such conditions
if any, as may be specified in the order:
Provided that the Commission shall not, under any such regulation,
grant any exemption except with the consent,-
Of the local authority, if any, constituted in the area where
energy is to be supplied;
In any case where energy is to be supplied in any area forming
part of any cantonment, aerodrome, fortress, arsenal, or camp
or any building or place in the occupation of the Central Government
for defense purposes, of the Central Government;
In any area falling within the area of supply of a licensee, of
that licensee:
Provided further that, except in a case falling under clause(ii)
no such consent shall be necessary if the Commission is satisfied
that such consent has been unreasonably withheld.
(2) An exemption may be granted,-
To persons of a particular category; or
To a particular person; or
For a particular period;
and an exemption to persons of a particular category or to a particular
person shall be published in such manner as the Commission considers
appropriate for bringing it to the attention of that person or
persons of that category and of the public in general.
(3) The exemption granted may be revoked by the Commission at
any time for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(4) An exemption, unless previously revoked, shall continue in
force for such period as may be specified in or determined by
or under the exemption.
(5) Every exemption granted by the Commission under this Act
shall be published in the Official Gazette.
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| General Duties and Powers of the licensees.- |
(1) It shall be the duty
of the holder of a supply license or a transmission license in respect
of a particular area to develop, maintain and provide to the consumers
or the licensees as the case may be or any other person an efficient,
co-ordinated and economical system of electricity supply, distribution
or transmission in the area of transmission or area of supply, as
the case may be.
(2) Each licensee and Generating Company in discharge
of its duties shall comply with the provisions of the regulations
framed from time to time governing the terms and conditions for
the operation and maintenance of power system and electric supply
lines.
(3) Subject to sub-section (4), sections 12 to
19 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910(Central Act No. 9 of 1910)(which
relate to the carrying out of works) shall have effect in relation
to a person authorised by a license under this Act to transmit or
supply electricity as if he is a licensee under that Act.
(4) Where any of the sections mentioned in sub-section(3)
is applied to a license holder by his license, it shall have effect
subject to such restrictions, exceptions and conditions as may be
included in the license. |
| Revocation of licenses.- |
(1) The Commission may,
if in its opinion the public interest so requires, revoke a license
in any of the following cases, namely :-
(a) Where the licensee, in the opinion of the Commission,
has committed a willful or unreasonably prolonged default in doing
anything required of him by or under this Act, or under any regulation
of orders of the Commission;
(b) Where the licensee breaks any of the terms
or condition of his license the breach of which is expressly declared
by such license to render it liable to revocation;
(c) Where the licensee fails within the period
fixed in this behalf by his license or any longer period which the
Commission may substitute thereof by order,-
To show, to the satisfaction of the Commission
that he is in a position to fully and efficiently discharge the
duties and obligations imposed on him by his license; or
To make the deposit or furnish the security required by his license;
(d) Where in the opinion of the Commission the financial position
of the licensee is such that he is unable to fully and efficiently
discharge the duties and obligations imposed on him by his license.
(e) Where a licensee, in the opinion of the Commission,
has made default in complying with any direction issued under Section
22-A of Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central Act No. 9 of 1910).
(2) Where in its opinion of the Commission the
public interest so permits, the Commission may, on the application
or with the consent of the licensee and after consulting the State
Electricity Board or Corporation as the case may be, and the Central
Government where the Government is interested, and if the licensee
is not a local authority, after consulting the local authority concerned,
if any , revoke a license as to the whole or any part of the area
of supply upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) No license shall be revoked under sub-section
(1) unless the Commission has given to the licensee not less than
three months notice in writing stating the grounds on which it is
proposed to revoke the license and has considered any cause shown
by the licensee within the period of that notice, against the proposed
revocation.
(4) Where the Commission might under sub-section
(1) revoke license it may instead of revoking the license, permit
it to remain in force subject to such further terms and conditions
as it thinks fit to impose and any further terms or conditions so
imposed shall be binding upon, and be observed by, the licensee,
and be of like force and effect as if they were contained in the
license. |
| Amendment of licenses.- |
(1) Where in its opinion
the public interest so permit, the Commission, on the application
of the licensee or otherwise, and after consulting the local authority;
on the application of the local authority concerned, may make such
alternations and amendments to the terms and conditions of a license,
including the provisions specified in clause (f) of sub-section
(2) of section 18, as it thinks fit:
Provided that no such alterations or amendments,
shall be made except with the consent of the licensee unless such
consent has, in the opinion of the Commission, been unreasonably
withheld.
(2) Where the licensee has made an application
under sub-section (1) seeking any alterations or amendments in his
license, the following provisions shall have effect, namely:-
(a) the licensee shall publish a notice of the
application in the prescribed manner and prescribed particulars;
(b) the Commission shall not make any alterations
or amendments until all objections received by it with reference
to the application within one month from the date of the first publication
of the notice have been considered;
(c) in the case of an application seeking alterations
or amendments in an area of supply comprising the whole or any part
of the cantonment, aerodrome, fortress, arsenal, or camp or of any
building or place in the occupation of the Central Government for
defense purposes, the Commission shall not make any alterations
or amendments except with the consent of the Central Government.
(3) Before making any alterations or amendments
in a license otherwise than on the application of the licensee,
the Commission shall publish the proposed alterations or amendments
in the prescribed manner and with prescribed particulars and consider
all objections received by it with reference to the proposed alterations
or amendments within one month from the date of the first publication
of the notice; and where alterations or amendments have been proposed
in an area of supply or transmission such as is referred to in clause
© of sub-section (2), the Commission shall not make any alterations
or amendments except with the consent of the Central Government. |
| Provisions where license of a licensee is
revoked.- |
(1) Where the Commission
revokes, under sub-section (1) of section 21, the license of a licensee,
the following provisions shall have effect:-
The Commission shall serve a notice of revocation
upon the licensee and shall fix a date on which the revocation shall
take effect ; and on and from the earlier date, on which the undertaking
of the licensee is sold to a purchaser in pursuance of any of the
succeeding clauses or is delivered to a designated purchaser in
pursuance of sub-section (3), all the powers and liabilities of
the licensee under this Act shall absolutely cease and determine;
The Commission shall invite applications for acquiring the undertaking
of the licensee whose license has been revoked and determine terms
and conditions of the sale of the undertaking;
The Commission may, by notice in writing, require the licensee to
sell, and thereupon the licensee shall sell the undertaking to the
person whose application has been accepted by the Commission and
such person is referred to in this section as the “purchaser”;
and
The Commission may make such interim arrangement in regard to the
undertaking of the licensee for maintaining the electricity transmission,
distribution and supply as may be considered appropriate including
the appointment of administrators and special directors for the
undertaking.
(2) Where an undertaking is sold under sub-section (1), the purchaser
shall pay to the licensee the purchase price of the undertaking
determined by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of
sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 7-A of Indian Electricity Act,
1910 (Central Act No. 9 of 1910) or as the case may be, sub-section
(3) of that section.
(3) Where the Commission issues any notice under
sub-section (1) requiring the licensee to sell the undertaking,
it may by such notice require the licensee to deliver, and thereupon
the licensee shall deliver on a date specified in the notice, the
undertaking to the designated purchaser pending the determination
and payment of the purchase price of the undertaking:
Provided that in any such case, the purchaser shall
pay to the licensee interest at the Reserve Bank rate ruling at
the time of delivery of the undertaking plus one per centum, on
the purchase price of the undertaking for the period from the date
of delivery of the undertaking to the date of payment of the purchase
price.
(4 ) Where before the date fixed in the notice
issued under clause (a) of sub-section (1) being the date on which
the revocation of the license shall take effect, no notice has been
issued to the licensee requiring him to sell the undertaking or
where for any reason no sale of the undertaking has been effected
under that sub-section, the State Government shall acquire the undertaking
on the date of revocation of the license and shall pay to the licensee
an amount determined in accordance with sub-section(1) and (2) of
section 7-A of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central Act No.
9 of 1910), as applicable in the State and shall perform all the
obligations of the licensee until such time as the State Government
is able to sell the undertaking to a new licensee which it shall
endeavor to do expeditiously without undue delay. |
| Licensee not to purchase, or associate himself
with, other licensed undertakings.- |
(1) The licensee shall
not, at any time, without the previous consent in writing of the
Commission, acquire, by purchase or otherwise the license or the
undertaking of, or associate himself with, so far as the business
of generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying energy is
concerned with, any person generating, transmitting, distributing,
supplying or intending to generate, transmit distribute or supply
energy under any other license:
Provided that before granting the consent the Commission
shall hear such person or authority as the Commission shall consider
appropriate.
Provided further that nothing in this sub-section
shall be construed to require the consent of the Commission for
the supply of energy by one licensee to another in accordance with
the provisions of clause IX of the Schedule to the Indian Electricity
Act, 1910 (Central Act No. 9 of 1910).
(2) The licensee shall not, at any time, assign
his license or transfer his undertaking, or any part thereof, by
sale, mortgage, lease, exchange or otherwise without the previous
consent in writing of the Commission.
(3) Any agreement relating to any transaction of
the nature described in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), unless
made with or subject to such consent as aforesaid , shall be void. |
| Annual accounts of licensee.- |
| (1) Every licensee shall, unless expressly
exempted from the liability by his license, or by order in writing
of the Commission, prepare and render to the Commission or to such
authority as the Commission may appoint in this behalf, on or before
the prescribed date in each year, an annual statement of accounts
of his undertaking made up to such date, in such form and containing
such particulars, as may be prescribed in this behalf.
(2) The licensee shall keep copies of such annual statement at
his office and sell the same to any applicant. |
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