DELHI ELECTRICITY REFORMS ACT, 2000
Preamble 1 - THE
DELHI ELECTRICITY REFORMS ACT, 2000
THE DELHI ELECTRICITY REFORMS ACT, 2000
[Delhi Act, No. 2 of 2001]
[23rd November, 2000]
PREAMBLE
An Act to provide for the constitution
of an Electricity Commission, restructuring of the electricity industry
(rationalization of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of
electricity), increasing avenues for participation of private sector in the
electricity industry and generally for taking measures conducive to the
development and management of the electricity industry in an efficient,
commercial, economic and competitive manner in the National Capital Territory
of Delhi and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by the Legislative
Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in the Fifty-first year of
the Republic of India as follows:--
Section 1 - Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the Delhi
Electricity Reforms Act, 2000.
(2) It extends to the whole of the National
Capital Territory of Delhi excluding the areas of the New Delhi Municipal
Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into
force on the 3rd day of November, 2000.
Section 2 - Definitions
(1) In this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires,--
(a) "area of transmission" means
the area within which the holder of a transmission is for the time being,
authorised by licence to transmit energy;
(b) "Central Act" means the
Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998;
(c) "Commission" means the Delhi
Electricity Regulatory Commission referred to in section 3;
(d) "Government" means the
Lieutenant Governor referred to in article 239AA of the Constitution;
(e) "licence" means a licence
granted under Part II or Part IIA of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of
1910) or Part VI of this Act;
(f) "licensee" or "licence
holder" means a person licensed under Part II or Part IIA of the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910) or under Part VI of this Act to transmit or
supply energy;
(g) "Lieutenant Governor" means
the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi appointed by
the President under article 239 read with article 239AA of the Constitution;
(h) "High Court" means the High
Court of Delhi;
(i) "member or members" means the
member or members of the Commission and shall include the Chairperson of the
Commission;
(j) "prescribed" means as
prescribed by the rules or regulations made under this Act;
(k) "regulation" means a
regulation made by the Commission under this Act;
(l) "rule" means a rule made by
the Government under this Act;
(m) "selection committee" means
the selection committee referred to in section 4;
(n) "section" means a section of
this Act;
(o) "transmit" in relation to
electricity means the transportation or transmission of electricity by means of
a system operated or controlled by a licensee which consists, wholly or mainly,
of extra high voltage and extra high tension lines and electrical plant and is
used for transforming and for conveying and/or transferring electricity from a
generating station to a sub-station, from one generating station to another or
from one sub-station to another or otherwise from one place to another.
(2) Words and expressions used but not
defined in this Act and defined in the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of
1948), have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act;
(3) Words and expressions used but not
defined either in this Act or in the Electricity Supply Act, 1948 (54 of 1948)
and defined in the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), have the meanings respectively
assigned to them in that Act.
Section 3 - Establishment and constitution of the
Commission
(1) There shall be an Electricity
Regulatory Commission for the National Capital Territory of Delhi to be known
as "the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission" (hereinafter
referred to as "the Commission") to exercise the powers conferred on,
and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act.
(2) The Commission shall consist of one or
more but not more than three members, including the Chairperson, to be
appointed by the Government in the manner provided in section 4, who shall be
person or persons, as the case may be, of ability, integrity and standing with
knowledge of, and having shown capacity in, dealing with problems relating to
administration, engineering, finance, commerce, economics, law or management:
Provided that one member shall always
be with adequate experience in generation, transmission or distribution of
electricity and, if there are more than one member, the members shall be
persons having expertise in different disciplines.
(3) The Commission established and
constituted with one member under section 17 of the Central Act shall be the
first Commission for the purposes of this Act and the member appointed shall be
the Chairperson of the Commission.
(4) At all times the most senior member of
the Commission shall act as Chairperson, such seniority being reckoned from the
date of the appointment of the members. In case two or more persons are
selected at the same time, the seniority amongst them shall be determined by
the Government while making the appointment.
(5) When the Chairperson of the Commission
is unable to discharge the functions owing to absence, illness or any other
cause, the next senior member of the Commission shall discharge the functions
of the Chairperson, until the day on which the Chairperson assumes the charge
of his functions.
(6) No act or proceedings of the Commission
shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its
members or any defect in the constitution thereof.
(7) The Commission shall have an official
seal for the authentication of documents required for the purposes of its
functions.
(8) The Commission may by a general or
special order in writing and subject to such conditions as may be specified in
the order delegate to any officer of the Commission such of the administrative
powers as the Commission considers appropriate to aid and assist the work of
the Commission.
Section 4 - Constitution of the selection committee
to select members
(1) (a) The Government shall constitute a
selection committee, as often as may be required to select persons for
appointment as members. The selection committee shall consist of the following
members:--
(i) A Judge of High Court or a former Judge
of High Court--Chairperson
(ii) Chief Secretary of the
Government--Member;
(iii) The Chairman of Central Electricity
Regulatory Commission--Member
(b)
The Secretary in charge of the Department of Power of the Government shall act
as the convenor of the selection committee.
(2) The selection committee shall finalise
the selection within a period of one month from the date on which the reference
is made to it.
(3) The selection committee shall recommend
a panel of two names for every vacancy referred to it.
(4) All decisions of the selection
committee shall be by majority.
(5) The Government shall appoint the member
from the two names recommended by the selection committee.
(6) The method and manner of selection and
appointment of members and designation of one of the members as Chairperson
shall be as prescribed by the Government from time to time by the rules.
Section 5 - Conditions for appointment
(1) The persons who are considered for
appointment as members of the Commission shall notify to the convenor of the
selection committee--
(a) of any office, employment or
consultancy agreement or arrangement which he has in his own name or in any
firm, association or person or body corporate, or in the names of any
relatives, carrying on any of the following businesses:--
(i) generation, transmission, distribution
or supply of electricity;
(ii) manufacture, sale or supply of any fuel
for generation of electricity;
(iii) manufacture, sale, lease, hire or
otherwise supply of, or dealing in, machinery, plant, equipment, apparatus or
fittings for generation, transmission, distribution supply or use of
electricity;
(iv) any entity providing professional
services to any of the businesses referred to in sub-clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) above and any other business which is notified by the Government on a
later date taking into consideration the scope of work of the Commission;
(b) such other details and information as
may be prescribed in the rules.
Explanation.--For the purpose of this
sub-section, the term "relative" shall have the same meaning as
defined under section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
(2) The details received from the persons
shall be placed for consideration of the selection committee at the time of the
selection and recommendation of the person for appointment as member.
(3) Each member of the Commission shall,
before taking charge of the office as member or within such time not exceeding
three months after taking charge as may be allowed by the Government on the
recommendation of the selection committee, divest himself from the interest in
the businesses mentioned in sub-section (1) as a condition of his appointment.
(4) If a person to be appointed as a member
of the Commission holds any office under the Government of India or the
Government of any State or the Government of any Union territory he shall
submit his resignation or take voluntary retirement from that service and shall
not seek reappointment in the service of the Government or any Government,
corporation or private body, dealing with the power sector for a period of two
years after he ceases to be member of the Commission.
(5) So long as the person holds the office
of the member and for a period of two years after he ceases to be a member for
any reason whatsoever, he shall not acquire, hold or maintain, directly or
indirectly, any office, employment or consultancy arrangement or interest in
business mentioned in sub-section (1) and if he acquired any such interest
involuntarily or by way of succession or testamentary disposition, he will
divest himself of such interest within a period of three months of such
interest being acquired.
(6) Before recommending any person as a
member of the Commission, the selection committee shall satisfy itself that the
person does not have any financial or other interest as referred to in
sub-section (1) or otherwise which is likely to affect prejudicially his
functions as a member.
(7) A person shall be disqualified from
being appointed as member of the Commission if he is a member of Parliament or
of the Legislative Assembly of any State or of the Legislative Assembly of any
Union territory or of any local authority or holds any post in a political
party.
Section 6 - Terms of office, conditions of service,
etc., of members
(1) Every member shall hold office for a
period of five years from the date of his appointment as member or until the
age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and he shall not be eligible for
re-appointment at any time after the expiry of his term of appointment:
Provided that no person shall be
appointed as a member after he attains the age of sixty-two years.
(2) The Chairperson of the Commission and
other members shall receive such remunerations and other allowances and shall
be governed by such conditions of service as may be prescribed from time to
time under the rules.
Provided that the terms shall not be
varied to their disadvantage during the tenure of the appointment.
(3) The Chairperson of the Commission and
every other member shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe
to an oath of the office and of secrecy in such form, in such manner and before
such authority, as may be prescribed.
Section 7 - Removal of members
(1) Subject to the provisions of
sub-section (3), any member of the Commission shall only be removed from his
office by order of the Lieutenant Governor on the ground of proved misbehaviour
after the High Court, on reference being made to it by the Lieutenant Governor,
has, on inquiry held in accordance with the procedure prescribed in that behalf
by the High Court, reported that the member ought, on any such ground, to be
removed.
(2) The Lieutenant Governor may suspend any
member of the Commission in respect of whom a reference has been made to the
High Court under sub-section (1) until the Lieutenant Governor has passed
orders on the receipt of the report of the High Court on such reference.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sub-section (1), the Lieutenant Governor may, by order, remove from office the
member if he--
(a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or
(b) has been convicted of an offence which,
in the opinion of the Government, involves moral turpitude; or
(c) has become physically or mentally incapable
of acting as a member; or
(d) has acquired such financial or other
interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member; or
(e) has so abused his position as to render
his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest; or
(f) has without reasonable cause refused or
failed to act for a period of at least six months; or
(g) ceases to fulfil any of the conditions
of his appointment as member.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sub-section (3), no member shall be removed from his office on the ground
specified in clause (d) or in clause (e) of that sub-section unless the High
Court on a reference being made to it in this behalf by the High Court,
reported that the member ought on such ground or grounds to be removed.
(5) The Government shall act in accordance
with the recommendation in the final report under sub-section (4) and the
Government shall communicate its decision to the member concerned within a
period of two months of the receipt of such report.
(6) A member who has been removed shall not
be eligible for reappointment as a member or in any other capacity in the
Commission or in the Government or in any Government undertakings.
(7) If the member removed under this
section is the Chairperson of the Commission, he shall cease to be the Chairperson
of the Commission.
(8) Nothing contained in this section shall
be construed to exclude the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta and Up-lokayukta.
Section 8 - Appointment of the Secretary and staff
of the Commission
(1) The Commission, in consultation with
the Government, shall appoint a person as Secretary of the Commission to assist
the Commission to discharge its functions.
(2) The Commission may, in consultation
with the Government, determine the number, nature and categories of other
officers and employees required to assist the Commission in the discharge of
its functions.
(3) The method and manner of selection of
the Secretary, officers and other employees and the terms and conditions of
their service may be prescribed by the Commission by regulations in consultation
with the Government.
(4) The salaries and allowances payable to
the members and the administrative expenses, including salaries, allowances and
pensions payable to or in respect of the Secretary, officers and other
employees of the Commission, shall be charged to the Consolidated Fund of the
National Capital Territory of Delhi.
(5) The Commission may appoint consultants
from time to time to assist the Commission in the discharge of its functions.
Section 9 - Proceedings of the Commission
(1) The headquarters of the Commission
shall be at Delhi.
(2) The Commission may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, make regulations not inconsistent with this Act and the
rules made there under for discharging its functions.
(3) All decisions of the Commission shall
be on the basis of majority of the members present and voting. In case of a
difference of opinion among the members of the Commission, the opinion of the
majority shall prevail and the opinion of the Commission shall be expressed in
terms of the views of the majority. Each member of the Commission shall have
one vote only. The Chairperson shall have no casting or second vote.
(4) If there are more than one member in
the Commission, the quorum for any meeting of the Commission shall be two
members:
Provided that for a meeting of the
Commission to review any previous decision taken by the Commission or for
consideration of any issue which could not be decided on account of equality of
votes in favour of and against the resolution proposed, the quorum for the
meeting shall be all members present.
(5) (a) The Chairperson may instruct the
Secretary to call a meeting of the Commission to be held at such time as the
Chairperson may direct.
(b)
Any member of the Commission may, subject to the consent of the Chairperson,
requisition a meeting of the Commission at any time by sending a notice in
writing to the other members with a copy to the Secretary.
(6) The Commission shall be entitled to
decide urgent matters by circulation of the papers to members.
(7) All decisions, directions and orders of
the Commission shall be in writing and shall be supported by reasons. The
decisions directions and orders of the Commission shall be available for
inspection by any person and copies of the same shall also be made available in
such a manner as the Commission may prescribe.
Section 10 - Powers of the Commission
(1) The Commission shall, for the purposes
of any inquiry or proceedings under this Act have the powers as are vested in a
Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a
suit in respect of the following matters, namely:--
(a) the summoning and enforcing of
attendance of any witness and examining on oath;
(b) the discovery and production of any
document or other material object producible as evidence;
(c) the reception of evidence on affidavit;
(d) the requisition of any public record
from any court or office;
(e) the issue of Commission for examination
of witnesses;
(f) the appearance of parties and
consequences of non-appearance;
(g) the grant of adjournments at the
hearing; and
(h) any other matter which may be
prescribed.
(2) The Commission shall have the power to
require any person--
(a) to produce before it and allowed to be
examined and kept by an officer of the Commission specified in this behalf,
such books, accounts, or other documents in the custody or under the control of
the person so required as may be specified or described in the requisition,
being documents relating to any matter concerning the generation, transmission,
distribution and supply or use of electricity, the functioning of any
undertaking involved in the above areas and other matters, the examination of
which the Commission considers is necessary or relevant for the purposes of
this Act or for the discharge of the functions of the Commission under this
Act; and
(b) to furnish to an officer so specified,
such information as may be required for the purposes of this Act or such other
information as may be in his possession in relation to any activity carried on
by any other person.
(3) For the purpose of enforcing the
attendance of witnesses, the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Commission
shall be the limits of the territory of India.
(4) The Commission shall have the powers to
make such interim orders in any proceedings, or hearing before the Commission
as the Commission considers appropriate.
(5) Where, during any inquiry or
proceedings under this Act, the Commission has any grounds to believe that any
books or papers or documents of, or relating to, any unit or person in relation
to which such inquiry is being made or proceeding relates, which the owner of
such unit or person may be required to produce in such inquiry or proceeding,
are being or may be destroyed, mutilated, altered, falsified or secreted, it
may, by a written order, authorize any officer or the Commission to exercise
the powers of entry, search and seizure as may be exercised by an inspector
appointed for inspection under sections 240 and 240A of the Companies Act, 1956
(1 of 1956).
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in
any other law for the time being in force, the Commission may, by a general or
special order, call upon any person including the generating companies or the
licensees to furnish to the Commission, periodically or as and when required,
any information concerned with the activities carried on by such person related
to generation, transmission, distribution and supply or use of electricity, the
connection between such person and any other person or undertaking including
such other information related to the organisation, business, cost of
production, conducts, etc., as may be prescribed to enable the Commission to
carry out its functions under this Act.
(7) In the discharge of its functions, the
Commission shall be entitled to and shall consult to the extent the Commission
considers appropriate from time to time such person or group of persons as may
be affected or are likely to be affected by the decisions of the Commission.
(8) The Commission may, at any time, call
for and examine, information, details, books, accounts and other documents from
any person including a generating company or a licensee for the purposes of
providing the same to the Central Electricity Authority, the Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Central Government or the Government if
so required by them under any law for the time being in force.
(9) Every person to whom notices may be
issued under this Act shall be obliged to duly, faithfully and expeditiously
furnish such information, details, books, accounts and other documents, as may
be specified in the notice by the Commission.
(10) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sections 12 to 16 (both inclusive) and sections 18 and 19 of the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910) , for the placing of the electric supply
lines, appliance and apparatus for transmission, distribution and supply of energy,
the Commission may, by order in writing, confer upon licensees or any other
person engaged in the business of transmission, distribution or supply of
energy to the public under this Act, subject to such conditions and
restrictions as the Commission may prescribe, any of the powers which the
telegraph authority possesses under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1985 (13 of 1985)
with respect to placing of telegraph lines and post.
Section 11 - Functions of the Commission
(1) The Commission shall discharge the following
functions, namely:--
(a) to determine the tariff for
electricity, wholesale, bulk, grid or retail, as the case may be;
(b) to determine the tariff payable for the
use of the transmission facilities;
(c) to regulate power purchase and
procurement process of the licensees and transmission utilities including the
price at which the power shall be procured from the generating companies,
generating stations or from other sources for transmission, sale, distribution
and supply in the National Capital Territory of Delhi;
(d) to promote competition, efficiency and
economy in the activities of the electricity industry to achieve the objects
and purposes of this Act;
(e) to aid and advise the Government in
matters concerning electricity generation, transmission, distribution and
supply in the National Capital Territory of Delhi;
(f) to regulate the operation of the power
system within the National Capital Territory of Delhi;
(g) to set standards for the electricity
industry in the National Capital Territory of Delhi including standards related
to quality, continuity and reliability of service;
(h) to promote competitiveness and make
avenues for participation of private sector in the electricity industry in the
National Capital Territory of Delhi and also to ensure a fair deal to the
customers;
(i) to aid and advise the Government in the
formulation of its power policy;
(j) to collect and publish data and
forecasts on the demand for, and use of, electricity in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi and to require the licensees to collect and publish such
data;
(k) to regulate the assets, properties and
interest in properties concerned or related to the electricity industry in the
National Capital Territory of Delhi including the conditions governing entry
into, and exit from the electricity industry in such manner as to safeguard the
public interest;
(l) to issue licences for transmission,
bulk supply, distribution or supply of electricity and determine the conditions
to be included in the licences;
(m) to regulate the working of the
licensees and other persons authorised or permitted to engage in the
electricity industry in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and to promote
their working in an efficient, economical and equitable manner;
(n) to require licensees to formulate
prospective plans and schemes in coordination with others for the promotion of
generation, transmission, distribution; supply and utilisation of electricity,
quality of service and to devise proper power purchase and procurement process;
(o) to adjudicate upon the disputes and
differences between the licences and/ or transmission utilities and to refer
the matter for arbitration;
(p) to aid and advise the Government on any
other matter referred to the Commission by the Government.
(2) The Commission shall always act
consistent with the objectives and purposes for which the Commission has been
established as an independent statutory body corporate and all acts, decisions
and orders of the Commission shall be pursuant to achieve such objectives and
purposes.
Section 12 - General powers of the Government
(1) In the discharge of its functions, the
Commission shall be guided by such directions in matters of policy involving
public interest as the Government may issue from time to time.
(2) If any question arises as to whether
any such direction relates to a matter of policy involving public interest, the
decision of the Government thereon shall be final.
(3) The Government shall be entitled to
issue policy directions concerning any subsidy to be allowed for supply of
electricity or any other infrastructure services to any class or classes of
persons:
Provided that the Government shall
contribute an amount to compensate the Board or any company affected to the
extent of the subsidy granted. The Commission shall determine such amounts, the
terms and conditions on which and the time within which such amounts are to be
paid by the Government.
(4) The Government shall consult the
Commission in relation to any proposed legislation or rules concerning any
policy direction and may take into account the recommendations made by the
Commission.
Section 13 - Authorising the Commission to
discharge functions of Commission in respect of other Union territory
The Government may, if so required to
do by the Central Government, authorise the Commission to discharge the
functions of Electricity Regulatory Commission in respect of any other Union
territory.
Section 14 - Incorporation of companies for the
purpose of generation, transmission or distribution of electricity
(1) The Government may, as soon as may be
after the commencement of this Act, cause one or more companies to be
incorporated and set up under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of
1956) for the purpose of generation, transmission or distribution of
electricity, including companies engaged in more than one of the said activities,
in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and may transfer the existing
generating stations or the transmission system or distribution system, or any
part of the transmission system or distribution system, to such company or
companies.
(2) The Government may designate any
company set up under sub-section (1) to be the principal company to undertake
all planning and coordination in regard to generation or transmission or both;
and such company shall undertake works connected with generation or
transmission and determine the requirements of the territory in consultation
with the other companies engaged in generation or transmission for the National
Capital Territory of Delhi, the Commission, the Regional Electricity Board and
the Central Electricity Authority and any other authority under any law in
force for the time being, or any other Government concerned.
(3) The companies incorporated and set up
under sub-section (1) shall undertake the functions specified in this section
and such other functions as may be assigned to them by the Government.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act
and of the duties and functions assigned to the companies incorporated and set
up under sub-section (1), other companies engaged in generation, transmission
or distribution of electricity, or more than one of the said activities, may be
incorporated and set up in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
(5) The Government may, in consultation
with the Commission, determine the lines that shall be treated as transmission
or distribution lines for the purpose of division of responsibilities between
the companies incorporated and set up under this section, having regard to the
voltage levels of such lines and any other factor, which it may consider
relevant.
(6) The Government may convert the companies
set up under this Act to joint venture companies through a process of
disinvestment, in accordance with the transfer scheme prepared under the
provisions of this Act.
(7) Upon the transfer of all functions of
the Board to corporate entities in terms of this Part, the Government may
appoint an administrator for the purpose of finalisation' of the accounts of
the Board for all the pending years till the date of such transfer and
thereafter for winding up the Board in such manner as the Government may direct.
Section 15 - Reorganisation of Delhi Vidyut Board
and transfer of properties, functions and duties thereof
(1) With effect from the date on which a
transfer scheme prepared by the Government to give effect to the objects and
purposes of this Act, is published or such further date as may be specified by
the Government (hereinafter referred to as "the effective date"), any
property, interest in property, rights and liabilities which immediately before
the effective date belonged to the Board shall vest in the Government.
(2) The Government may transfer such
property, interest in property, rights and liabilities to any company or
companies established under section 14 for the purpose in accordance with the
transfer scheme prepared therefore.
(3) Such of the rights and powers to be
exercised by the Board under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948),
as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall
be exercisable by a company or companies established as the case may be, under
section 14, for the purpose of discharge of the functions and duties with which
it is entrusted.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in
this section or any other Act, where--
(a) the transfer scheme involves the
transfer of any property or rights to any person or undertaking not wholly
owned by the Government, the scheme shall give effect to the transfer only
after asset valuation;
(b) where any transaction of any
description is effected in pursuance of a transfer scheme, it shall be binding
on all persons including third parties, even if such persons have not consented
to it.
(5) The Government may require any
transmitting or distributing company established under the provisions of
sub-section (1) of section 14 (hereinafter referred to as "the transferor
licensee"), or any generating company to draw up a transfer scheme to vest
in a further licensee or licensees (the "transferee licensee or
licensees"), or any generating company, any property, interest in
property, rights and liabilities which have been vested in the transferor licensee
or generating company, as the case may be, under this section and publish the
same in the Official Gazette. The transfer scheme to be notified under this
sub-section shall have the same effect as a transfer scheme under sub-section
(2).
(6) A transfer scheme may--
(a) provide for the formation of
subsidiaries, joint venture companies or other schemes of division,
amalgamation, merger, reconstruction or arrangements;
(b) define the property, interest in
property, rights and liabilities to be allocated--
(i) ??by specifying or describing the property,
rights and liabilities in question,
(ii) ??by referring to all the property, interest in
property, rights and liabilities comprised in a specified part of the
transferors undertaking, or
(iii) ??partly in the one way and partly in the
other:
Provided that the property, interest in
property, rights and liabilities shall be subject to such further transfer as
the Government may specify;
(c) provide that any rights or liabilities
specified or described in the scheme shall be enforceable by or against the
transferor or the transferee;
(d) impose on any licensee an obligation to
enter into such written agreements with, or execute such other instruments in
favour of any other subsequent licensee as may be specified in the scheme;
(e) make such supplemental, incidental and
consequential provisions as the transferor licensee considers appropriate
including provision specifying the order in which any transfer or transaction
is to be regarded as taking effect;
(f) provide that the transfer shall be
provisional subject to the provisions of section 18.
(7) All debts and obligations incurred, all
contracts entered into and all matters and things done by, with or for the
Board, or a company or companies established as the case may be, under section
14 or generating company or distribution company or companies before a transfer
scheme becomes effective shall, to the extent specified in the relevant
transfer scheme, be deemed to have been incurred, entered into or done by, with
or for the Government or the transferee and all suits or other legal
proceedings instituted by or against the Board or transferor, as the case may
be, may be continued or instituted by or against the Government or concerned
transferee, as the case may be.
(8) In the event a licensee is required to
vest any part of its undertakings in another licensee pursuant to sub-section
(5), the Government shall amend the transferee licence in accordance with
section 24 or revoke its licence in accordance with section 23.
(9) The Board shall cease to exist with the
transfer of functions and duties specified and with the transfer of assets as
on the effective date.
(10) The exercise by a licensee of any of
Board's rights and powers may be made on such conditions as shall be specified
in the transfer scheme including a condition that such rights and powers shall
be exercised by the licensee only with the approval of the
Commission/Government.
Section 16 - Provisions relating to personnel
(1) The Government may by a transfer scheme
provide for the transfer of the personnel from the Board to a company or
companies established as the case may be, under section 14 and distribution
companies (hereinafter referred to as "transferee company or
companies") on the vesting of properties, rights and liabilities in a
company or companies established, as the case may be, under section 14 or the
distribution companies.
(2) Upon such transfers the personnel shall
hold office in the transferee company on terms and conditions that may be
specified in the transfer scheme subject, however, to the following, namely:--
(a) that the terms and conditions of the
service applicable to them in the transferee company shall not in any way, be
less favourable than or inferior to those applicable to them immediately before
the transfer;
(b) that the personnel shall have
continuity of service in all respects; and
(c) that the benefits of service accrued
before the transfer shall be fully recognised and taken in account for all
purposes including the payment of any and all terminal benefits.
Section 17 - Payment of compensation or damages on
transfer
Notwithstanding anything contained in
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) or any other law as is
applicable and except for the provisions made in this Act the transfer of the
employment of the personnel referred to in section 16 shall not entitle such
employees to any compensation or damages under this Act or any other law or
under the general law, save as provided in the transfer scheme.
Section 18 - Variation of transfers by agreement
(1) The Government may provide that the
transfers in terms of sections 15 and 16 shall be provisional for a period of
twelve months from the effective date unless confirmed earlier and reserve the
right to alter, vary, modify, add or otherwise change the terms in such manner
as the Government may consider appropriate.
(2) At any time before the end of the
period of twelve months commencing on the effective date, a company or
companies established as the case may be, under section 14 or generating
company or distribution company or companies, as the case may be, to whom
property, interest in property, rights, liabilities and personnel have been
transferred, may with the consent of the Government draw up a transfer scheme
to vest some or all the property, rights, liabilities and personnel in another
licensee, or generating company subject to the consent of such other licensee
or generating company to such vesting and any such transfer scheme shall take
effect as if it were a transfer scheme under sections 15.
Section 19 - Licensing
(1) No person, other than those authorised
to do so by licence or by virtue of exemption under this Act or authorised to
or exempted by any other authority under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of
1910) and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) shall engage in the
National Capital Territory of Delhi in the business of--
(a) transmitting electricity; or
(b) supplying electricity including bulk
supply.
(2) Where any difference or dispute arises
as to whether any person is or is not engaged or about to engage in the
business of transmitting or supplying electricity as described 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 have the power to
order any unlicensed person to cease operation and disconnect its apparatus.
Section 20 - Grant of licences by the Commission
(1) The Commission may, on an application
made in such form and on payment of such fee, if any, as it may prescribe,
grant a licence authorising any person to--
(a) transmit electricity in a specified
area of transmission; or
(b) supply electricity in a specified area
of supply including bulk supply to licensees or any person.
(2) In respect of the grant of any such
licence, the following provisions shall apply:--
(a) any person applying for a licence shall
publish a notice of his application in such manner, and with such particulars
as may be prescribed by the Commission within fourteen days after making such
application;
(b) the Commission shall not grant a
licence until--
(i) all objections received relating to the
application for the licence have been considered by the Commission:
Provided that no objection shall be
considered by the Commission unless it is received within three months of the
date of the first publication of the notice under clause (a) above or if the
Commission may, at any time prescribe a new time limit for filing objection;
and
(ii)? ?in the
case of an application for a licence to supply or transmit in an area which
includes the whole or any part of any contonment, aerodrome, fortress, arsenal,
dockyard or camp or of any building or place in the occupation of the Central
Government for defence purposes, the Commission has ascertained that there is
no objection to the grant of the licence on the part of the Central Government;
(c) 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 reasons for such opinion; and
(d) no application for a licence shall be
made by any local authority except pursuant to a resolution passed at a meeting
of such authority held after one month's previous notice of the same specifying
the purpose thereof, has been given in the manner in which notices of meetings
of such local authority are usually given.
(3) A licence may prescribe the duration,
extent to which, and the terms and conditions under which the transmission or
supply of energy is to be made and contain such other conditions as the
Commission may consider appropriate for achieving the purposes of this Act.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of
sub-section (3), conditions included in a licence by virtue of that sub-section
may require the licensee to--
(a) enter into agreements on specified
terms with other persons for the use of any electric lines, electrical plant(s)
and associated equipment operated by the licensee;
(b) comply with any direction given by the
Commission;
(c) act in accordance with the terms of the
licence;
(d) refer all disputes arising under the licence
for determination by the Commission;
(e) furnish information, documents and
details which the Commission may require for its own purpose or for the
purposes of the Central Government or the Government or Central Electricity
Authority or Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
(f) comply with the requirements of the
Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), and the Electricity (Supply) Act,
1948 (54 of 1948) or the rules framed there under in so far as they are
applicable;
(g) undertake such functions and
obligations of the Delhi Vidyut Board under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9
of 1910), and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948), as the
Commission may prescribe;
(h) obtain the approval of the Commission
of such things that are required under the licence conditions or for deviation
from the same;
(i) notify the Commission of any scheme
that he proposes to undertake including the schemes in terms of the provisions
of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948).
(j) purchase of the power in an economical
manner and under a transparent power purchase procurement process; and
(k) supply in bulk to other licensees or to
customers.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of
sub-section (3), conditions included in a licence granted by the Commission may
require the holder of such a licence to establish a tariff or to calculate its
charges from time to time in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the
Commission.
(6) The provisions contained in the
Schedule to the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), shall be deemed to be
incorporated with, and to form part of, every supply licence granted under this
Part save in so far as they are expressly varied or excepted by the supply
licence and shall, subject to any such additions, variations or exceptions
which the Commission is empowered to make having regard to the purposes of this
Act, apply to the undertaking authorised by the licence in relation to its
activities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi:
Provided that where a supply licence is
granted by the Commission for the supply of energy to other licensees for
distribution by them, then in so far as such licence relates to such supply,
the provisions of clauses IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and XII of the said Schedule
shall not be deemed to be incorporated within the supply licence.
(7) The conditions included in a licence
may contain provision for the conditions to cease to have effect or be modified
at such times, in such manner and in such circumstances as may be specified in
or determined by or under the conditions.
(8) Any provision included by virtue of
sub-section (7) above in a licence shall have effect in addition to the
provision made by sub-section (5) of section 23 and section 24 of this Act with
respect to the amendment of the conditions of a licence.
(9) Unless indicated in the terms of a
licence, the grant of a licence under this section to a person shall not in any
way hinder or restrict the grant of a licence to another person within the same
area of supply for a like purpose, the licensee shall not claim any
exclusivity.
(10) The licence granted by the Commission
in terms of this Act may provide that the licensee shall have the powers and
authorities to take appropriate actions for revenue realisation, prosecution
for theft, meter tampering, diversion of electricity, and all such and similar
matters to affecting the distribution and supply of electricity to the
consumer.
(11) The Commission shall be entitled to
authorise the licensees and persons to exercise such power and authority as the
licensees and persons could be given under the provisions of the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54
of 1948).
Section 21 - Exemptions from the requirement to
have a licence
(1) The Commission may by order grant
exemption from the requirement to have a supply licence, 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 order, grant any exemption except with the consent--
(i) ?of the local authority, if any, constituted in
the area where energy is to be supplied;
(ii)? ?in any
case where energy is to be supplied in any area forming part of any cantonment,
aerodrome, fortress, arsenal, dockyard or camp or any building or place in the
occupation of the Central Government for defence purposes, of the Central
Government;
(iii) ?in any area falling within the area of supply
of a licensee, of that licensee:
Provided further that except in a case
falling under sub-clause (ii), no such consent shall be necessary if the
Commission is satisfied that such concept has been unreasonably withheld.
(2) An exemption may be granted--
(a) to persons of a particular category; or
(b) to a particular person; or
(c) 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 order or exemption made by the
Commission under this Act shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Section 22 - General duties and powers of the
licensees
(1) It shall be the duty of the holder of a
supply licence or a transmission licence in respect of a particular area to
develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical system of
electricity supply 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) of this
section, sections 12 to 19 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910)
(which relate to the carrying out of works) shall have effect in relation to a
person authorised by a licence under this Act to transmit or supply
electricity, as if he is a licensee in that Act.
(4) Where any of the sections mentioned in
sub-section (3) above is applied to a licence holder by his licence, it shall
have effect subject to such restrictions, exceptions and conditions as may be
included in the licence.
Section 23 - Revocation of licences
(1) The Commission may inquire into the
conduct or functioning of any licensee in carrying out the obligations under
this Act or rules or regulations framed there under or the terms and conditions
of its licence--
(a) upon receiving a complaint from any
consumer or consumer association or any trade association; or
(b) upon a reference made to it by the
Government or by the Central Government, the Central Electricity Authority; or
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission;
(c) upon receiving a complaint from any
company or person involved in the generation, transmission, distribution or
supply of electricity; or
(d) upon its own knowledge or information
derived from any source.
(2) Upon making such inquiry the Commission
may, if in its opinion the public interest so requires, revoke a licence in any
of the following cases, namely:--
(a) where the licensee, in the opinion of
the Commission, has committed a wilful or unreasonable default in doing
anything required of him by or under this Act, the Indian Electricity Act, 1910
(9 of 1910) or the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) or rules made there
under to the extent applicable in the National Capital Territory of Delhi read
with the provisions of this Act;
(b) where the licensee commits a breach of
any of the terms and conditions of his licence the breach of which is expressly
declared by such licence to render it liable to revocation;
(c) where the licensee fails within the
period specified in his licence or any longer period which the Commission may
allow by order--
(i) ??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 licence;
(ii) ?to make the deposit or furnish the security
required by his licence;
(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 licence.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of
sub-sections (1) and (2), where in its opinion the public interest so requires,
the Commission may, on the application or with the consent of the licensee, and
if the licensee is not a local authority, after consulting the local authority
concerned, if any, revoke a supply licence as to the whole or any part of the
area of supply upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) No licence shall be revoked under
sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) 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 licence and has considered any cause shown
by the licensee within the period of that notice, against the proposed
revocation and has given reasons for such revocation.
(5) The Commission may instead of revoking
the licence, 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 licence.
Section 24 - Amendment of licences
(1) The Commission may, where in its
opinion the public interest so permits or requires, on the application of the
licensee if the licensee is not a local authority, on the application of the
local authority concerned or otherwise on its own may make such alterations and
amendments to the terms and conditions of a licence as it thinks fit taking
into account the objects and purposes of this Act:
Provided that no such alterations or
amendments, other than an alteration or amendment pursuant to a licence
condition referred to in sub-section (7) of section 20 and sub-section (5) of
section 23 of this Act shall be made except with the consent of the licensee.
(2) Where the licensee has made an
application under sub-section (1) proposing any alterations or amendments in
his licence, the following provisions shall apply:--
(a) the licensee shall publish a notice or
the application in the manner and with the particulars as may be prescribed by
the Commission,
(b) the Commission shall not make any
alterations or amendments until all objections received by it with reference to
the application within three months from the date of the publication of the
notice have been considered; and
(c) in the case of an application proposing
alterations or amendments in an area of supply comprising the whole or any part
of the cantonment, aerodrome, fortress, arsenal, dockyard or camp or of any
building or place in the occupation of the Central Government for defence 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 licence otherwise than on the application of the licensee, the
Commission shall publish the proposed alterations or amendments and consider
all objections received by it with reference to the proposed alterations or
amendments within three months from the date of the publication of the notice.
Section 25 - Provisions where licence is revoked
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of
sections 6 and 7 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), where the
Commission revokes a licence under sub-section (2) of section 23 of this Act,
the following shall apply:--
(a) the Commission shall serve a notice of
revocation upon the licensee and shall fix a date on which the revocation shall
take effect. On and with effect from that date or on and with effect from the
date, if earlier, on which the undertaking of the licensee is sold to a
purchaser in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act all the rights,
duties, obligations and liabilities of the licensee under this Act shall
absolutely cease and determine except for any liabilities that have accrued to
that date;
(b) the Commission shall invite
applications for acquiring the undertaking of the licensee whose licence has
been revoked and determine terms and conditions of the sale of the undertaking;
(c) 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
Government, or as the case may be, the Commission. Such person is referred to
in this section as the "purchaser", and
(d) the Commission may make such interim
arrangement in regard to the undertaking of the licensee for maintaining the
electricity transmission 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 in accordance with the application submitted by the
purchaser,
(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 payment of the purchase price of the undertaking:
Provided that in any such case, the
purchaser shall pay to the licensee interest at such per cent exceeding the
Reserve Bank lending rate ruling at the time of delivery of the undertaking as
the Commission may decide, 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 subsection (1) as the date on which the
revocation of the licence 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 Government
shall acquire the undertaking on the date of revocation of the licence and
shall pay to the licensee an amount determined in accordance with subsections
(1) and (2) of section 7A of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910) and
shall perform all the obligations of the licensee until such time as the
Government is able to sell the undertaking to a new licensee, which it shall
endeavour to do when reasonably practicable.
(5) The licensee shall duly implement the
orders of the Commission, notwithstanding that the licensee may be aggrieved by
the orders of the Government or as the case may be, the Commission intends to
take legal action challenging the orders of the Government or the Commission,
as the case may be.
Section 26 - Restrictions on licensee and
generating companies
(1) No licensee or generating company
shall, at any time, without the previous consent in writing of the Commission,
acquire by purchase or otherwise the licence or the undertaking or associate
himself with, so far as the business of generating, transmitting, distribution
or supply of energy is concerned, any other licensee or person generating,
transmitting, supplying or intending to generate, transmit or supply
electricity:
Provided that before granting or
refusing such consent, the Commission shall hear such person or authority as
the Commission may consider appropriate.
(2) The licensee shall not, at any time,
assign his licence 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) The provisions of section 44 of the
Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) shall apply except that the persons
to whom the section applies shall be required to obtain the sanctions and
consents from the Commission, instead of such sanctions and consents to be
obtained from the Board as provided under that section.
(4) A holder of a supply or transmission
licence may, unless expressly prohibited by the terms of its licence, enter
into arrangements for the purchase of electricity from--
(a) the holder of a supply licence which
permits the holder of such licence to supply energy to other licensees for
distribution by them; and
(b) any person or generating company with
the consent of the Commission.
(5) Any agreement relating to any
transaction of the nature described in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) unless
made with, or subject to such consent as aforesaid, shall be void.
Section 27 - Annual accounts of licensee
Every licensee shall, unless expressly
exempted by the licence, prepare and render to the Commission, on or before the
date in each year specified in the licence, an annual statement or statements
of accounts of its undertaking and of each separate business unit as specified
in the licence made up to such date, in such form and containing such
particulars, as may be set out in the licence. It shall be a term of the
licence that such statements shall be published in manner prescribed in the
rules.
Section 28 - Licensee's revenues and tariffs
(1) The holder of each licence granted
under this Act shall observe methodologies and procedures specified by the
Commission from time to time in calculating the expected revenue from charges
which it is permitted to recover pursuant to the terms of its licence and in
designing tariffs to collect those revenues.
(2) The Commission shall, subject to the
provisions of sub-section (3), be entitled to prescribe the terms and
conditions for the determination of the licensee's revenues and tariffs by
regulations duly published in the Official Gazette and in such other manner as
the Commission considers appropriate:
Provided that in doing so, the
Commission shall be guided by the following parameters, namely:--
(a) the financial principles and their
application provided in the Sixth Schedule to the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948
(54 of 1948) read with, sections 57 and 57A of the said Act;
(b) the factors which would encourage
efficiency, economic use of the resources, good performance, optimum
investments and other matters which the Commission considers appropriate
keeping in view the salient objects and purposes of the provisions of this Act;
(c) the interest of the consumers.
(3) Where the Commission departs from the
factors specified in the Sixth Schedule of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948
(54 of 1948) while determining the licensee's revenues and tariffs, it shall
record the reasons therefor in writing.
(4) Any methodology or procedure specified
by the Commission under subsections (1), (2) and (3) above, shall be to ensure
that the objects and purposes of this Act are duly achieved.
(5) Every licensee shall provide to the
Commission at least three months before the ensuing financial year full details
of its calculation for that financial year of the expected aggregate revenue
from charges which it believes it is permitted to recover pursuant to the terms
of its licence and thereafter it shall furnish such further information as the
Commission may reasonably require to assess the licensee's calculation. Within
ninety days of the date on which the licensee has furnished all the information
that the Commission requires, the Commission shall notify the licensee either--
(a) that it accepts the licensee's
calculation; or
(b) that it does not consider the
licensee's calculation to be in accordance with the methodology or procedure in
its licence, and such notice to the licensee shall--
(i) ?specify fully the reasons why the Commission
considers that the licensee's calculation does not comply with the methodology
or procedures specified in its licence or is in any way incorrect, and
(ii) ?propose a modification or an alternative
calculation of the expected revenue from charges, which the licensee shall
accept.
(6) Each holder of a supply licence shall
publish in the daily newspaper having circulation in the area of supply and
make available to the public on request the tariff or tariffs for the supply of
electricity within its licenced area and such tariff or tariffs shall take
effect only after seven days from the date of such publication.
(7) Any tariff implemented under this
section--
(a) shall not show undue preference to any
consumer of electricity, but may differentiate according to the consumer's load
factor or power factor, the consumer's total consumption of energy during any
specified period, or the time at which supply is required;
(b) shall be just and reasonable and be
such as to promote economic efficiency in the supply and consumption of
electricity; and
(c) shall satisfy all other relevant
provisions of this Act and the conditions of the relevant licence.
(8) No tariff or part of any tariff
required by sub-section (6) may be amended more frequently than once in any
financial year except in respect of any changes expressly permitted under the
terms of any fuel surcharge formula prescribed. At least three months before
the proposed date for implementation of any tariff or an amendment to a tariff
the licensee shall provide details of the proposed tariff or amendment to a
tariff to the Commission, together with such further information as the
Commission may require to determine whether the tariff, or amended tariff,
would satisfy the provisions of sub-section (7). If the Commission considers
that the proposed tariff, or amended tariff of a licensee does not satisfy any
of the provisions of sub-section (7), it shall, within sixty days of receipt of
all the information which it required, and after consultation with the
Commission Advisory Committee and the licensee, notify the licensee that the
proposed tariff, or amended tariff is unacceptable to the Commission and it
shall provide to the licensee an alternative tariff or amended tariff which
shall be implemented by the licensee. The licensee shall not amend any tariff
unless the amendment has been approved by the Commission.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in
section 57A and 57B of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) no
rating committee shall be constituted after the date of this enactment and the
Commission shall secure that licensees comply with the provisions of their
licences regarding their charges for the sale of electricity (both wholesale
and retail) and for the connection to and use of their assets or systems in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(10) In this section--
(a) "the expected revenue from
charges" means the total revenue which a licensee is expected to recover
from charges for the level of forecast supply used in the determination under
sub-section (5) above in any financial year in respect of goods or services
supplied to customers pursuant to a licensed activity; and
(b) "tariff" means a schedule of
standard prices or charges for specified services which are applicable to all
such specified services provided to the type or types of customers specified in
the tariff.
Section 29 - Finances of licensees
(1) The Government may, with the approval
of the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, from
time to time make subventions to, any licensee for the purpose of this Act or
the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) for such amounts as may be
recommended by the Commission and on such terms and conditions as the Government
may determine.
(2) The Government may, from time to time
advance loans to any licensee or generating company which for the time being is
wholly or partly owned by the Government on such terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the Electricity (Supply) Act,
1948 (54 of 1948) as the Government may determine.
(3) The Government shall be entitled to
inspect and verify the accounts of every licensee or generating company
claiming any benefits under sub-section (1) or subsection (2).
Section 30 - Interim orders for securing compliance
(1) Where the Commission is satisfied that
a licensee is contravening, or is likely to contravene any relevant condition
or requirement, it shall by final order under section 31 and, if it thinks it appropriate
in accordance with sub-section (2) by interim order under this section, issue
such directions as it deems proper for securing compliance.
(2) In determining whether it is
appropriate that an interim order be made, the Commission shall have regard, in
particular to--
(a) the extent to which the contravention
or likely contravention by the licensee will affect the achievement of the
objects and purposes of this Act;
(b) the extent to which any person is
likely to sustain loss or damage in consequence of anything which, is likely to
be done, or omitted to be done, in contravention of the relevant condition or
requirement, before a final order can be made; and
(c) the extent to which (having regard to
the following provisions of this section) there is any other available remedy
in respect of the alleged contravention of a relevant condition or requirement.
(3) If the Commission proposes to make an
interim order, it shall give notice to the licensee--
(a) stating that it proposes to make the
order;
(b) setting out--
(i) ?the relevant condition or requirement which
the proposed order is intended to secure compliance;
(ii) the acts or
omissions which, in its opinion constitute contravention of that condition or
requirement;
(iii) the other facts
which in its opinion, justify the making of the proposed order; and
(iv) the effects of
the proposed order;
(c) specifying the period (being not less
than five days from the date of notice) within which the licensee may make
representations or objections to the proposed order.
(4) Subject to sub-section (5), having
considered any representations or objections from the licensee pursuant to
clause (c) of sub-section (3), the Commission may make an interim order (which
may be modified from the proposed order following the licensee's
representations or objections) at any time after the expiry of the period
referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (3), if--
(a) the Commission has reason to believe
that the licensee to whom the order relates has contravened or is contravening
or is likely to contravene any relevant condition or requirement; and
(b) the provisions made by the order are
requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or
requirement.
(5) The Commission may not make an interim
order if it is satisfied that licensee has agreed to take and is taking all
such steps as the Commission considers that the licensee should take to secure
or facilitate compliance with the condition or requirement in question.
(6) An interim order--
(a) shall require the licensee to whom it
relates (according to the circumstances of the case) to do, or not to do, such
things as are specified in the order or are of a description so specified.
(b) shall take effect from such time, being
the earliest practicable time as is determined by the order; and
(c) may be revoked, modified or rescinded
at any time by the Commission, but in any event shall cease to have effect at
the end of such period as is stated in the order unless the Commission is at
that time following the procedure set out in section 31 of this Act to declare
the interim order to be a final order.
(7) As soon as practicable after making an
interim order, the Commission shall--
(a) serve a copy of the order on the
licensee to whom the order relates;
(b) publish the order in such manner as it
considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of
persons likely to be affected by it; and
(c) commence proceedings to declare the
interim order to be a final order in accordance with section 31 of this Act.
Section 31 - Final orders for securing compliance
(1) If the Commission proposes to make a
final order or to declare an interim order to be a final order, the Commission
shall give notice--
(a) stating that it proposes to make the
final order or to declare the interim order to be a final order;
(b) setting out the information referred to
in clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 30 of this Act in respect of the
proposed final order; and
(c) specifying the period (being not less
than sixty days from the date of publication of the notice) within which
representations or objections to the proposed order may be made; and shall
consider any representations or objections that are duly made and not withdrawn.
The Commission shall publish notice of such representations or objection and
specify a period (being not less than thirty days from the date of publication
of the notice) within which further representations or objections may be made.
(2) A notice under sub-section (1) above
shall be given--
(a) by publishing the notice in such manner
as the Commission considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters
to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected
by them; and
(b) by serving a copy of the notice, and a
copy of the proposed final order on the licensee to whom the order relates.
(3) The Commission shall not modify the
proposed final order as a result of any representations or objections received
following publication of the notice referred to in sub-section (1) except--
(a) with the consent to the modification of
the licensee to whom the proposed final order relates, and
(b) after complying with the requirements
of sub-section (4) below.
(4) The requirements mentioned in
sub-section (3) above are that the Commission shall--
(a) serve on the licensee to whom the
proposed final order relates such notice as appears to the Commission requisite
of its proposal to modify the proposed final order, together with details of
such modifications;
(b) in that notice specify the period
(being not less than thirty days from the date of the service of the notice)
within which representations or objections to the proposed modifications can be
made; and
(c) consider any representations or
objections which are duly made and not withdrawn within ten days.
(5) The provisions of clauses (a) and (b)
of sub-section (6) of section 30 shall apply to final orders.
(6) As soon as practicable after making a
final order, the Commission shall with respect to the final order, follow the
procedure set out in clauses (a) and (b) of subsection (7) of section 30.
(7) The Commission may revoke a final order
at any time, but before revoking a final order the Commission shall give
notice--
(a) stating that it proposes to revoke the
order and setting out its effect; and
(b) specifying the period (being not less
than thirty days from the date of delivery of the notice) within which
representations or objections to the proposed publication may be made, and
shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not
withdrawn within ten days.
(8) If, after giving a notice under
sub-section (7) above, the Commission decides not to revoke the final order to
which the notice relates, it shall give notice of its decision to the concerned
persons.
(9) A notice under sub-section (7) or
sub-section (8) above shall be given by the procedure set out in clauses (a)
and (b) of sub-section (7) of section 30.
Section 32 - Effect and enforcement of interim and
final orders and emergency provision
(1) Without prejudice to section 52 of this
Act, all orders and directions, interim or final, passed by the Commission
shall be enforceable in law as if it were a decree passed by a Civil Court.
(2) The Commission shall be entitled to
take such assistance of the police and other authorities in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi as required to effectively enforce the order and
direction given by the Commission.
(3) The Commission shall be entitled to
give directions for vesting of the management and control of any of the
undertakings of the licensee with the assets, interests and rights of the
undertaking pending any inquiry and passing of interim or final orders in the
matter, if the Commission considers, taking into account the objects and
purposes of this Act and the need to maintain continued supply of electricity
in an efficient and safe manner to the consumer, it is imminent to pass such
orders or directions. Such directions or orders shall not be questioned on the
ground that no prior notice of or hearing on the intention to pass the order or
direction was given to the licensee. The Commission shall however give
opportunity to the licensee and hear the licensee before passing further orders
in terms of sections 30 and 31 of this Act.
Section 33 - Fines and charges
(1) The Commission shall be entitled to
impose such fines and charges as may be prescribed by the Commission in the
regulations of non-compliance or violation on the part of the generating
companies, licensees or other persons, of the provisions or requirements of
this Act or rules and regulations framed thereunder and directions or orders of
the Commission shall be made from time to time. The fines which the Commission
shall be entitled to impose may extend up to one lakh rupees for an act of
non-compliance or violation and a further amount not exceeding six thousand
rupees for every day during which the non-compliance or violation continues.
(2) The Commission shall, while making an
interim or final order under this part, shall be entitled to direct
compensation to be paid by the person guilty of violation or non-compliance as
provide in sub-section (1) to the person or persons affected by such violation
or non-compliance.
(3) The fines, charges and compensation,
which may be imposed by the Commission under this section, shall be in addition
to and not in derogation of any other liability, which the person guilty of
violation or non-compliance, may have incurred.
Section 34 - General control of the Commission
The generating companies shall comply
with the directions of the Commission given to them from time to time in
relation to the terms and conditions for the operation and maintenance of the
power system and electric supply lines.
Section 35 - Commission Advisory Committee
(1) The Commission shall constitute a
committee to be known as the Commission Advisory Committee, in consultation
with the Government which shall consist of such number of persons being not
less than nine and not more than fifteen as the Commission may appoint after
consultation with such representatives or bodies representative of the
following interests as the Commission thinks fit, that is to say, holders of
supply licences in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, commerce, industry,
transport, agriculture, labour employed in the electricity supply industry and
consumers of electricity.
(2) The Chairman and member of the
Commission shall be ex-officio Chairman and member of the Commission Advisory
Committee.
(3) The Commission Advisory Committee shall
meet at least once in every three months.
(4) The functions of the Commission
Advisory Committee shall be--
(a) to advise the Commission on major
question of policy related to the electricity industry in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi; and
(b) to advise the Commission on any matters
which the Commission may put before it, including matters relating to the
quality, continuity and extent of service provided by licensees and compliance
by licensees with the conditions and requirements of their licences.
Section 36 - Consumer protection; standards of
performance
(1) The Commission may, after consultation
with (a) holder of supply licences; (b) other persons or bodies appearing to
the Commission to be representatives of persons and categories of persons
likely to be affected; and (c) the Commission Advisory Committee, frame regulations
prescribing--
(a) the circumstances in which such
licensees are to inform customers of their rights;
(b) the standards of performance in
relation to any duty arising under clause(a) above or otherwise in connection
with the electricity supply to the consumer; and
(c) the circumstances in which licensees
are to be exempted from any requirements of the regulations of this section and
may make different provision for different licensees.
(2) Nothing in this or other provisions of
this Act shall in any way prejudice or affect the rights and privileges of the
consumers under other laws including but not limited to the Consumer Protection
Act, 1986 (68 of 1986).
Section 37 - Electricity supply overall performance
standards
(1) The Commission may after consultation
with the licensees, the Commission Advisory Committee, and with persons or
bodies appearing to it to be representative of persons likely to be affected,
from time to time--
(a) determine such standards of overall
performance in connection with the provision of electricity supply services and
in connection with the promotion of the efficient use of electricity by
consumers as, in its opinion, is economic and ought to be achieved by such
licensees; and
(b) arrange for the publication, in such
form and in such manner as it considers appropriate, of the standards so
determined.
(2) Different standards may be determined
under this section for different licensees.
Section 38 - Information with respect to levels of
performance
(1) The Commission shall, from time to
time, collect information with respect to--
(a) the fines or penalties levied on
licensees under this Act.
(b) the levels of overall performance
achieved by such licensees in connection with the transmission and provision of
electricity supply services; and
(c) the levels of performance achieved by
such licensees in connection with the promotion of the efficient use of
electricity by consumers.
(2) On or before such date in each year as
may be specified in a direction given by the Commission each licensee shall
furnish to the Commission the following information:--
(a) with respect to each standard
prescribed the number of cases in which a penalty was levied and the aggregate
amount or value of those penalties; and
(b) with respect to each standard
determined such information with respect to the level of performance achieved
by the licensee as may be so specified.
(3) The Commission shall, at least once in
every year, arrange for the publication, in such form and in such manner as it
considers appropriate, of such of the information collected by or furnished to
it under this section as may appear to the Commission to be so required.
Section 39 - Restriction on disclosure of
information
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act,
no confidential information with respect to any particular business which-
(a) has been obtained by the Commission
under or by virtue of any of the provisions of this Act; and
(b) relates to the affairs of any
individual or to any particular business;
(c) shall during the life time of that
individual or for so long as that particular business continues to be carried
on, be disclosed by the Commission without the consent of that individual or
the person for the time being carrying on that business.
(2) The restriction contained in
sub-section (1) above shall not apply to any disclosure of information which is
made--
(a) for the purpose of facilitating the
carrying out by the Government of any of its functions under a statute;
(b) for the purpose of facilitating the
carrying out by the Central Government of any of its duties or functions under
this Act or any Central Legislation;
(c) for the purpose of facilitating the
carrying out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India of his duties and
functions under this Act;
(d) for the purpose of enabling or
assisting any competent person to carry out his functions under the enactment
relating to insolvency;
(e) in connection with the investigation of
any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings; or
(f) for the purposes of any civil
proceedings brought under or by virtue of this Act or any other law for the
time being in force in the National Capital Territory of Delhi to which the
information is directly relevant.
(3) The restrictions contained in
sub-section (1) above do not apply to the disclosure of any information, which
is otherwise in the public domain.
Section 40 - Arbitration by the Commission
(1) Any dispute arising between licensees
or in respect of matters provided under section 36 shall be referred to the
Commission. The Commission may proceed to act as arbitrator or nominate
arbitrator(s) to adjudicate and settle such dispute. The practice or procedure
to be followed in connection with any such adjudication and settlement shall be
the same as laid down in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of
1996).
(2) Where the award is made by the
arbitrator appointed by the Commission it shall be filed before the Commission
and the Commission shall be entitled to pass appropriate orders on the award
including orders to--
(a) confirm and enforce the award;
(b) set aside the award.
(3) The award given by the Commission under
sub-section (1) or the order passed by the Commission under sub-section (2)
shall be a decision or order of the Commission and shall be open to an appeal
as provided in this Act.
(4) An award made or an order passed by the
Commission under sub-section (2) shall be enforceable as if it were a decree of
the Civil Court.
Section 41 - Appeals from decisions of Electrical
Inspectors
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of
sub-section (2) of section 36 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910)
or the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) or any rule made there under,
an appeal shall lie from the decision of the Electrical Inspector (other than
an Inspector of the Central Government, Central Electricity Authority or the
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission or to an arbitrator to be appointed
by the Commission in terms of section 49).
Section 42 - Appeals against the order of the
Commission
(1) A person aggrieved by any decision or
order of the Commission passed under this Act may file an appeal to the High
Court of Delhi within ninety days from the date of communication of the
decision or order of the Commission to him, on questions of law arising out of
such order:
Provided that the High Court may, if it
is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing
the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a further period
not exceeding sixty days.
Section 43 - Penalties for contravention of section
19
Whoever in contravention of the
provision of this Act or the regulations framed under this Act or of the
provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910) or the Electricity
(Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948) or the rules framed under the said Acts,
engages in the business of transmission or supply or use of energy, shall be
punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with penalty by
way of fine which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both and a further
penalty which may extend to twenty thousand rupees for each day after the first
during which the offence continues.
Section 44 - Penalties for contravention of other
provisions
If any licensee or other person refuses
or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with or give effect to, any
direction, order or requirement made under any of the provisions of this Act,
he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with
penalty by way of fine which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both and a
further penalty which may extend to twenty thousand rupees for each day after
the first during which the offence continues.
Section 45 - Offences by companies
(1) Where an offence under this Act has
been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was
committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the company for the conduct
of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be
guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this
sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves
that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised
all due diligence to prevent the Commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sub-section (1), whereas offence under this Act has been committed by a company
and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or
connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director,
manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager,
secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence
and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.--For the purpose of this
section--
(a) "company" means a body
corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director" in relation to a
firm, means a partner in the firm.
Section 46 - Power to compound offences
The Commission may, for reasons to be
recorded in writing either before or after the institution of proceedings
compound any offence relating to contravention of any order made by it.
Section 47 - Cognizance of offences
(1) No court shall take cognizance of any
offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made by
the Commission or by any other officer of the Commission generally or specially
authorised by the Commission for the purpose and no court other than that of a
Metropolitan Megistrate or a court superior thereto shall try any such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the court may, if it sees
reason so to do, dispense with the personal attendance of the officer of the
Commission filing the complaint.
Section 48 - Penalties and proceedings not to
prejudice other actions
The proceedings and actions under this
Act against a person contravening the provisions of this Act or orders passed
by the Commission shall be in addition to and without prejudice to actions that
may be initiated under other Acts including and in particular, under the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 (9 of 1910), and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54
of 1948).
Section 49 - Grant by the Government
The Government shall after due
appropriation made by the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital
Territory of Delhi by law in this behalf, pay to the Commission by way of grant
such sums of money as the Government may think fit for being utilized for the
purposes of this Act:
Provided that the expenditure in
respect of salaries and allowances of the Chairperson and other members shall
be charged on the Consolidated Fund of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Section 50 - Accounts and Audit.
(1)
the Commission shall
maintain accounts and other records and shall cause to be prepared an annual
statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed.
(2)
The accounts of the
Commission shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, or
by any officer authorised by him in this behalf.
(3)
The copies of annual
statement of accounts of the Commission together with the audit report thereon
shall be forwarded to the Government.
(4)
A copy of the annual
statement of accounts of the Commission together with the audit report thereon
received by the Government under sub-section (3) shall be laid before the House
of the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Section 51 - Annual report of the Commission.
The
Commission shall prepare, in such form and at such time, for each financial
year, as may be prescribed, its annual report, giving a full account of its
activities during the previous financial year and copies thereof shall be
forwarded to the Government.
PART ? XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 52 - Recovery of fees, fines and charges
The
Commission shall be entitled to recover all sums due to it under this Act,
whether by way of licence, fees or fines and charges in accordance with the
provisions of the Dues Recovery Act, as if any such sum were a public demand as
defined in that Act and hand over the amount due to the person or authority
concerned.
Section 53 - Application of fine and charges
The
Commission or Court imposing the fine and charges under this Act may direct
that the whole or any part thereof shall be applied in or towards payment of
the costs of the proceedings.
Section 54 - No part of the fines or penalties
imposed to be passed on.
The
licensee, generating companies and others on whom the fines, charges ,
penalties, etc. are imposed under this Act shall not, directly or indirectly,
pass the same to the consumers in the form of tariff or charges payable.
Section 55 - Protection of action taken in good
faith.
No
suit or legal proceedings shall lie against the Commission or the Chairperson
or members of the Commission or the staff or representatives of the Commission
in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under
this Act or any rule or regulations or order made there under.
Section 56 - Bar of jurisdiction. (Central Act 26
of 1996)
No
order or proposal made under this Act or rules or regulations framed under this
Act shall be open to an appeal except as provided in this Act and no Civil
Court including under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 shall have
jurisdiction in respect of any matter which the Commission or the Appellate
Authority under this Act is empowered by, or under, this Act..
Section 57 - Power to remove difficulties.
(1)
If any difficulty arises in
giving effect to the provisions of this Act or rules, regulations, schemes or orders
made there under, the Government may, by order published in the official
Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
as may appear to it be to necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of two
years from the date of the commencement of this Act.
(2)
Every order made under this
section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the
Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Section 58 - Proceedings before the Commission to
be judicial proceedings.
(Central Act 45 of 1860)
(Central Act 2 of 1974)
All
proceedings before the Commission shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings
within the meaning of sections 193, 219 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code and
the Commission shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purpose of section
195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Section 59 - Members, officers and employees of
Commission to be public servants.
(Central Act 45 of 1860)
The
Chairperson, members, officers and other employees of the Commission appointed
for carrying out the objects and purposes of this Act shall be deemed, when
acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any provisions of this Act, to be
public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860.
Section 60 - Power to make rules
(1)
The Government may, by
notification in the official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
(2)
In particular and without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for
all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a)
the procedure to be adopted
by the selection committee for discharge of functions under this Act;
(b)
prescribing other details
and information required to be notified to the convenor of the selection
committee by persons who are considered for appointment as members of the
Commission;
(c)
prescription of remuneration
and other allowances in respect of the Chairperson and other members of the
Commission and the conditions of the service under which they would be governed
from time to time;
(d)
prescription of the form,
the manner in which and the authority before whom oath of office and secrecy
would be subscribed by the Chairperson and other members of the Commission;
(e)
prescribing the form in
which annual statements of accounts is to be prepared by the Commission;
(f)
prescribing the form and the
time within which the annual report of the Commission shall be furnished to the
Government ;
(g)
the preparation and
implementation of the transfer scheme, the transfer of assets, liabilities and
personnel of generating companies, licensees and others in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi;
(h)
the financing, funding,
giving of guarantee, etc. to the persons involved in the generation,
transmission, distribution and supply of electricity in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi.
(i)
any other matter which is to
be, or may be, prescribed or in respect of which provision is to be made by
rules.
Section 61 - Power to make regulations.
(1)
The Commission may by
notification in the official Gazette, make regulations consistent with this Act
and the rules made there under to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2)
In particular and without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a)
the administration of the
affairs of the Commission including the discharging of its functions, the
exercise of its administrative, quasi-judicial and judicial powers including
arbitration and procedure, summoning and holding of the meetings of the
Commission, the times at which such meetings shall be held, the conduct of
business thereof and the manner in which copies of decision , directions and
orders of the Commission shall be made available.
(b)
the duties of the Secretary,
officers and employees of the Commission, method and manner of their selection
for appointment, their salaries, allowances and conditions of service;
(c)
determination of the
functions to be assigned to licensees and others involved in the generation,
purchase, transmission, distribution and supply, the manner in which such
functions shall be discharged, furnishing of periodical information by them to
the Commission related to generation, transmission, distribution and supply or
use of electricity or information related to organisation, business, cost of
productions, etc as may be prescribed, conferring upon licensees and other
persons any of the powers which the telegraph authority possesses under the
Indian Telegraph Act,1885 with respect to placing of telegraph lines and post
and the procedure and code to be adopted with regard to power system and
electric supply lines;
(d)
the procedure for licensing
of transmission and supply, the conditions for the grant of licences and
particulars, details and documents to be made available by the persons applying
for licence, the standard and general conditions subject to which, the licence
shall be granted prescribing the form of application for grant of licence and
fee payable for such licence, the exemption from grant of licence, revocation
and alteration and amendment and effect thereof, of the licence, and all
matters related to the above;
(e)
the duties, powers, rights and
obligations of the licensee;
(f)
the particulars to be
furnished, the collection of information, details, particulars, documents,
accounts, books etc., from or of the persons involved in the generation,
transmission, distribution, supply and use of electricity, the form and manner
in which the same are to be furnished and enforcing and compelling the
production of the same;
(g)
method and manner of
determination of licensee?s revenues, tariff fixation, the matters to be
considered in such determination and fixation;
(h)
the constitution of the
Commission Advisory Committee;
(i)
to make regulations
governing the terms and conditions for the operation and maintenance of power
system and electric supply lines;
(j)
the determination of the
standard of performance of the persons involved in the generation,
transmission, distribution and supply of electricity in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi;
(k)
the amount of fines and
penalties to be imposed for violation of provisions of this Act including the
method and manner of imposition of fines and penalties and collection of the
same;
(l)
to prescribe the form and
manner in which the accounts of the Commission shall be maintained;
(m)
to regulate the properties,
assets and interest in the properties used for or in connection with the
electricity industry in the National Capital Territory of Delhi;
(n) any
other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed or in respect of which
provision is to be made by regulations.
Section 62 - Rules and regulations to be laid
before the Legislative Assembly.
Every rule made by
the Government and every regulation made by the Commission under this Act shall
be laid , as soon as may be after it is made, before the House of the
Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, while it is in
session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one
session or in two or more successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid,
the House agrees in making any modification in the rule or regulation or the
House agrees that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule or
regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no
effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously
done under that rule or regulation.
PART ? XIV
Section 63 - EFFECT ON EXISTING CENTRAL LEGISLATION
Effect of the Act on the Indian Electricity Act 1910 and
the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948.
(Central Act 9 of 1910)
Central Act 54 of 1948)
(1)
Except as provided in
section 63 of this Ordinance, the provisions of this Ordinance, notwithstanding
that the same are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 or the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 shall prevail in
the manner and to the extent provided in sub-section (3)
(2)
Subject to sub-section (1)
in respect of all matters in the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the
Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, with which the Delhi Vidyut Board has been
concerned or dealing with, upon the constitution of the Commission the
functions of the Board shall be discharged by the Commission and the companies
established under section 14:
Provided
that
(a)
the Government shall be
entitled to issue all policy directives and undertake overall planning and
coordination as specified in section 12 of this Ordinance and to this extent
the powers and functions of the Delhi Vidyut Board as per the provisions of the
Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply ) Act, 1948 or rules
thereunder shall vest in the Government and the Government shall coordinate and
deal with the Central Government and the Central Electricity Authority.
(b)
In respect of such matters
as the Commission directs in term of a general or special order, or in the
regulations or in the licence, as the case may be, the generating company or
companies, the licensees or other body corporate as may be designated by the
Commission shall discharge the functions of the Board under the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 to the extent
directed by the Commission or specified in licences.
(3)
Subject to sub-section (1)
and sub-section (2) of this section, upon the establishment of the Commission
the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply)
Act, 1948 shall, in so far as the National Capital Territory of Delhi is
concerned, shall be read subject to the following modifications and reservations,
namely:-
The Indian Electricity Act,
1910[Central Act 9 of 1910]
The Electricity (Supply)
Act, 1948[Central Act 54 of 1948]
The Indian Electricity Act,
1910
(Central Act 9 0f 1910)
(i)?? ?All references to State Electricity Board in
the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 in so far as the National Capital Territory of
Delhi is concerned shall be read as references to the Delhi Electricity
Regulatory Commission or the companies established under section 14 or other
licensees or wherever it relates to general policy matters, to the Government.
(Central Act 9 0f 1910)
(ii) ??In respect
of matters provided in sections 3 to 11, 28, 36(2), 49-A, and 50 and 51 of the
Indian Electricity Act, 1910, to the extent this Ordinance has made specific
provisions, the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act 1910 shall not apply
in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
(Central Act 9 0f 1910)
(iii) ?The
provisions of all other sections of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 shall
apply except that:-
(a)
the term
"licence", "licensee" , "licence holder" shall
have the meanings as defined under this Ordinance and the licences shall be
construed as having been issued under this Ordinance;
(b)
the reference to the
sections of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply) Act,
1948 in the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 shall be taken as
reference to the corresponding provisions of this Ordinance to the extent
modified by this Ordinance;
(c)
the reference to arbitration
in these provisions except where it is by the Central Electricity Authority or
the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission shall be taken as reference to
the proceedings under section 40 of this Ordinance and the arbitration procedure
prescribed under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 shall not apply.
(iv) ?The Schedules
to the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 shall be applicable only with reference to
the provisions in this Act wherein the applications of the Schedules are
specified and not otherwise.
The Electricity (Supply)
Act, 1948
(v) ??All
references to State Electricity Board in the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 in
so far as the National Capital Territory of Delhi is concerned shall be read as
references to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission or the companies
established under section 14 or other licensees or where it relates to general
policy matters, to the Government.
(vi) ?In respect of
matters provided in sections 5 to 18, 19, 20, 23 to 27, 37, 40 to 45, 46 to 54,
56 to 69, 72 and 75 to 83 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, to the extent
this Ordinance has made specific provisions, the provisions of the Electricity
(Supply) Act, 1948 shall not apply in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
(vii) The provisions of all other sections of the
Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 shall apply except that ?
(a)
the term "licence"
"licensee" "licence holder" shall have the meanings as
defined under this Ordinance and the licences shall be construed as having been
issued under this Ordinance;
(b)
the references to the
sections of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply) Act,
1948 in the provisions of the electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 shall be taken as
reference to the corresponding provisions of the Ordinance to the extent
modified by this Ordinance;
(c)
the reference to arbitration
in these provisions except where it is by the Central Electricity Authority
shall be taken as reference to the proceedings under section 40 of this
Ordinance and the arbitration procedure prescribed under the Electricity
(Supply) Act, 1948 shall not apply.
(viii) The provisions of sections 72 and 73 of the
Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 shall be restricted to generating companies and
references to the State Electricity Board in these sections shall stand
omitted.
Section 64 - Savings.
1.
Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Ordinance, the powers, rights and functions of Regional
Electricity Authority, the Central Electricity Authority, the Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Central Government and authorities,
other than the Delhi Vidyut Board and the State Government under the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 or the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 or rules framed there
under shall remain unaffected and shall continue to be in force.
2.
Nothing contained in this
Ordinance shall apply to the power Grid Corporation, National Thermal Power
Corporation or other bodies or licensees in relation to the inter-state
transmission of the electricity or generating companies owned or controlled by
Central Government or undertaking owned by the Central Government.