Part IV
LICENSING
12. Authorised persons to transmit, supply, etc., electricity.
12. Authorised persons to transmit, supply, etc., electricity.—No person shall—
(a) transmit electricity; or
(b) distribute electricity; or
(c) undertake trading in electricity,
unless he is authorised to do so by a licence issued under Section 14, or is exempt under Section 13.
13. Power to exempt.
13. Power to exempt.—The Appropriate Commission may, on the recommendations, of the Appropriate Government, in accordance with the national policy formulated under Section 5 and in the public interest, direct, by notification that subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, and for such period or periods, as may be specified in the notification, the provisions of Section 12 shall not apply to any local authority, Panchayat Institution, users’ association, cooperative societies, non-governmental organisations, or franchisees.
14. Grant of licence.
14. Grant of licence.—The Appropriate Commission may, on an application made to it under Section 15, grant a licence to any person—
(a) to transmit electricity as a transmission licensee; or
(b) to distribute electricity as a distribution licensee; or
(c) to undertake trading in electricity as an electricity trader,
in any area as may be specified in the licence:
Provided that any person engaged in the business of transmission or supply of electricity under the provisions of the repealed laws or any Act specified in the Schedule on or before the appointed date shall be deemed to be a licensee under this Act for such period as may be stipulated in the licence, clearance or approval granted to him under the repealed laws or such Act specified in the Schedule, and the provisions of the repealed laws or such Act specified in the Schedule in respect of such licence shall apply for a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act or such earlier period as may be specified, at the request of the licensee, by the Appropriate Commission and thereafter the provisions of this Act shall apply to such business:
Provided further that the Central Transmission Utility or the State Transmission Utility shall be deemed to be a transmission licensee under this Act:
Provided also that in case an Appropriate Government transmits electricity or distributes electricity or undertakes trading in electricity, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, such Government shall be deemed to be a licensee under this Act, but shall not be required to obtain a licence under this Act:
Provided also that the Damodar Valley Corporation, established under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948, shall be deemed to be a licensee under this Act but shall not be required to obtain a licence under this Act and the provisions of the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948, insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall continue to apply to that Corporation (14 of 1948):
Provided also that the Government company or the company referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 131 of this Act and the company or companies created in pursuance of the Acts specified in the Schedule, shall be deemed to be a licensee under this Act:
Provided also that the Appropriate Commission may grant a licence to two or more persons for distribution of electricity through their own distribution system within the same area, subject to the conditions that the applicant for grant of licence within the same area shall, without prejudice to the other conditions or requirements under this Act, comply with the additional requirements [i][relating to the capital adequacy, creditworthiness, or code of conduct] as may be prescribed by the Central Government, and no such applicant, who complies with all the requirements for grant of licence, shall be refused grant of licence on the ground that there already exists a licensee in the same area for the same purpose:
Provided also that in a case where a distribution licensee proposes to undertake distribution of electricity for a specified area within his area of supply through another person, that person shall not be required to obtain any separate licence from the concerned State Commission and such distribution licensee shall be responsible for distribution of electricity in his area of supply:
Provided also that where a person intends to generate and distribute electricity in a rural area to be notified by the State Government, such person shall not require any licence for such generation and distribution of electricity, but he shall comply with the measures which may be specified by the Authority under Section 53:
Provided also that a distribution licensee shall not require a licence to undertake trading in electricity.
15. Procedure for grant of licence.
15. Procedure for grant of licence.—(1) Every application under Section 14 shall be made in such form and in such manner as may be specified by the Appropriate Commission and shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed.
(2) Any person who has made an application for grant of a licence shall, within seven days after making such application, publish a notice of his application with such particulars and in such manner as may be specified and a licence shall not be granted—
(i) until the objections, if any, received by the Appropriate Commission in response to publication of the application have been considered by it:
Provided that no objection, shall be so considered unless it is received before the expiration of thirty days from the date of publication of the notice as aforesaid;
(ii) until, in the case of an application for a licence for an area including the whole or any part of any cantonment, aerodome, fortress, arsenal, dockyard or camp or of any building or place in the occupation of the Government for defence purposes, the Appropriate Commission has ascertained that there is no objection to the grant of the licence on the part of the Central Government.
(3) A person intending to act as a transmission licensee shall, immediately on making the application, forward a copy of such application to the Central Transmission Utility or the State Transmission Utility, as the case may be.
(4) The Central Transmission Utility or the State Transmission Utility, as the case may be, shall, within thirty days after the receipt of the copy of the application referred to in sub-section (3), send its recommendations, if any, to the Appropriate Commission:
Provided that such recommendations shall not be binding on the Commission.
(5) Before granting a licence under Section 14, the Appropriate Commission shall—
(a) publish a notice in two such daily newspapers, as that Commission may consider necessary, stating the name and address of the person to whom it proposes to issue the licence;
(b) consider all suggestions or objections and the recommendations, if any, of the Central Transmission Utility or the State Transmission Utility, as the case may be.
(6) Where a person makes an application under sub-section (1) of Section 14 to act as a licensee, the Appropriate Commission shall, as far as practicable, within ninety days after receipt of such application,—
(a) issue a licence subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder; or
(b) reject the application for reasons to be recorded in writing if such application does not conform to the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder or the provisions of any other law for the time being in force:
Provided that no application shall be rejected unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard.
(7) The Appropriate Commission shall, immediately after issue of a licence, forward a copy of the licence to the Appropriate Government, Authority, local authority, and to such other person as the Appropriate Commission considers necessary.
(8) A licence shall continue to be in force for a period of twenty-five years unless such licence is revoked.
16. Conditions of licence.
16. Conditions of licence.—The Appropriate Commission may specify any general or specific conditions which shall apply either to a licensee or class of licensees and such conditions shall be deemed to be conditions of such licence:
Provided that the Appropriate Commission shall, within one year from the appointed date, specify any general or specific conditions of licence applicable to the licensees referred to in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth provisos to Section 14 after the expiry of one year from the commencement of this Act.
17. Licensee not to do certain things.
17. Licensee not to do certain things.—(1) No licensee shall, without prior approval of the Appropriate Commission,—
(a) undertake any transaction to acquire by purchase or takeover or otherwise, the utility of any other licensee; or
(b) merge his utility with the utility of any other licensee:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply if the utility of the licensee is situate in a State other than the State in which the utility referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) is situate.
(2) Every licensee shall, before obtaining the approval under sub-section (1), give not less than one month’s notice to every other licensee who transmits or distributes, electricity in the area of such licensee who applies for such approval.
(3) No licensee shall at any time assign his licence or transfer his utility, or any part thereof, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise without the prior approval of the Appropriate Commission.
(4) Any agreement relating to any transaction specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (3), unless made with, the prior approval of the Appropriate Commission, shall be void
18. Amendment of licence.
18. Amendment of licence.—(1) Where in its opinion the public interest so permits, the Appropriate Commission, may, on the application of the licensee or otherwise, make such alterations and amendments in the terms and conditions of his licence as it thinks fit:
Provided that no such alterations or amendments shall be made except with the consent of the licensee unless such consent has, in the opinion of the Appropriate Commission, been unreasonably withheld.
(2) Before any alterations or amendments in the licence are made under this section, the following provisions shall have effect, namely:—
(a) where the licensee has made an application under sub-section (1) proposing any alteration or modifications in his licence, the licensee shall publish a notice of such application with such particulars and in such manner as may be specified;
(b) in the case of an application proposing alterations or modifications in the area of supply comprising the whole or any part of any cantonment, aerodrome, fortress, arsenal, dockyard or camp or any building or place in the occupation of the Government for defence purposes, the Appropriate Commission shall not make any alterations or modifications except with the consent of the Central Government;
(c) where any alterations or modifications in a licence are proposed to be made otherwise than on the application of the licensee, the Appropriate Commission shall publish the proposed alterations or modifications with such particulars and in such manner as may be specified;
(d) the Appropriate Commission shall not make any alterations or modifications unless all suggestions or objections received within thirty days from the date of the first publication of the notice have been considered.
19. Revocation of licence.
19. Revocation of licence.—(1) If the Appropriate Commission, after making an enquiry, is satisfied that public interest so requires, it may revoke a licence in any of the following cases, namely:—
(a) where the licensee, in the opinion of the Appropriate Commission, makes wilful and prolonged default in doing anything required of him by or under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder;
(b) where the licensee breaks any of the terms or 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 fixed in this behalf by his licence, or any longer period which the Appropriate Commission may have granted therefor—
(i) to show, to the satisfaction of the Appropriate Commission, that he is in a position fully and efficiently to discharge the duties and obligations imposed on him by his licence; or
(ii) to make the deposit or furnish the security, or pay the fees or other charges required by his licence;
(d) where in the opinion of the Appropriate Commission the financial position of the licensee is such that he is unable fully and efficiently to discharge the duties and obligations imposed on him by his licence.
(2) Where in its opinion the public interest so requires, the Appropriate Commission may, on application, or with the consent of the licensee, revoke his licence as to the whole or any part of his area of distribution or transmission or trading upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(3) No licence shall be revoked under sub-section (1) unless the Appropriate 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.
(4) The Appropriate Commission may, instead of revoking a licence under sub-section (1), permit it to remain in force subject to such further terms and conditions as it thinks fit to impose, and any further terms and conditions so imposed shall be binding upon and be observed by the licensee and shall be of like force and effect as if they were contained in the licence.
(5) Where the Commission revokes a licence under this section, it shall serve a notice of revocation upon the licensee and fix a date on which the revocation shall take effect.
(6) Where the Appropriate Commission has given notice for revocation of licence under sub-section (5), without prejudice to any penalty which may be imposed or prosecution proceeding which may be initiated under this Act, the licensee may, after prior approval of that Commission, sell his utility to any person who is found eligible by that Commission for grant of licence.
20. Sale of utilities of licensees.
20. Sale of utilities of licensees.—(1) Where the Appropriate Commission revokes under Section 19 the licence of any licensee, the following provisions shall apply, namely:—
(a) the Appropriate Commission shall invite applications for acquiring the utility of the licensee whose licence has been revoked and determine which of such applications should be accepted, primarily on the basis of the highest and best price offered for the utility;
(b) the Appropriate Commission may, by notice in writing, require the licensee to sell his utility and thereupon the licensee shall sell his utility to the person (hereafter in this section referred to as the “purchaser”) whose application has been accepted by that Commission;
(c) all the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the licensee, on and from the date of revocation of licence or on and from the date, if earlier, on which the utility of the licensee is sold to a purchaser, shall absolutely cease except for any liabilities which have accrued prior to that date;
(d) the Appropriate Commission may make such interim arrangements in regard to the operation of the utility as may be considered appropriate including the appointment of Administrators;
(e) the Administrator appointed under clause (d) shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions as the Appropriate Commission may direct.
(2) Where a utility is sold under sub-section (1), the purchaser shall pay to the licensee the purchase price of the utility in such manner as may be agreed upon.
(3) Where the Appropriate Commission issues any notice under sub-section (1) requiring the licensee to sell the utility, it may, by such notice, require the licensee to deliver the utility, and thereupon the licensee shall deliver on a date specified in the notice, the utility to the designated purchaser on payment of the purchase price thereof.
(4) Where the licensee has delivered the utility referred to in sub-section (3) to the purchaser but its sale has not been completed by the date fixed in the notice issued under that sub-section, the Appropriate Commission may, if it deems fit, permit the intending purchaser to operate and maintain the utility system pending the completion of the sale.
21. Vesting of utility in purchaser.
21. Vesting of utility in purchaser.—Where a utility is sold under Section 20 or Section 24, then, upon completion of the sale or on the date on which the utility is delivered to the intending purchaser, as the case may be, whichever is earlier—
(a) the utility shall vest in the purchaser or the intending purchaser, as the case may be, free from any debt, mortgage or similar obligation of the licensee or attaching to the utility:
Provided that any such debt, mortgage or similar obligation shall attach to the purchase money in substitution for the utility; and
(b) the rights, powers, authorities, duties and obligations of the licensee under his licence shall stand transferred to the purchaser and such purchaser shall be deemed to be the licensee.
22. Provisions where no purchase takes place.
22. Provisions where no purchase takes place.—(1) If the utility is not sold in the manner provided under Section 20 or Section 24, the Appropriate Commission may, to protect the interest of consumers or in the public interest, issue such directions or formulate such scheme as it may deem necessary for operation of the utility.
(2) Where no directions are issued or scheme is formulated by the Appropriate Commission under sub-section (1), the licensee referred to in Section 20 or Section 24 may dispose of the utility in such manner as it may deem fit:
Provided that, if the licensee does not dispose of the utility, within a period of six months from the date of revocation, under Section 20 or Section 24, the Appropriate Commission may cause the works of the licensee in, under, over, along, or across any street or public land to be removed and every such street or public land to be reinstated, and recover the cost of such removal and reinstatement from the licensee.
23. Directions to licensees.
23. Directions to licensees.—If the Appropriate Commission is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do for maintaining the efficient supply, securing the equitable distribution of electricity and promoting competition, it may, by order, provide for regulating supply, distribution, consumption or use thereof.
24. Suspension of distribution licence and sale of utility.
24. Suspension of distribution licence and sale of utility.—(1) If at any time the Appropriate Commission is of the opinion that a distribution licensee—
(a) has persistently failed to maintain uninterrupted supply of electricity conforming to standards regarding quality of electricity to the consumers; or
(b) is unable to discharge the functions or perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act; or
(c) has persistently defaulted in complying with any direction given by the Appropriate Commission under this Act; or
(d) has broken the terms and conditions of licence,
and circumstances exist which render it necessary for it in public interest so to do, the Appropriate Commission may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suspend, for a period not exceeding one year, the licence of the distribution licensee and appoint an Administrator to discharge the functions of the distribution licensee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licence:
Provided that before suspending a licence under this section, the Appropriate Commission shall give a reasonable opportunity to the distribution licensee to make representations against the proposed suspension of licence and shall consider the representations, if any, of the distribution licensee.
(2) Upon suspension of licence under sub-section (1), the utilities of the distribution licensee shall vest in the Administrator for a period not exceeding one year or up to the date on which such utility is sold in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 20, whichever is later.
(3) The Appropriate Commission shall, within one year of appointment of the Administrator under sub-section (1), either revoke the licence in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 19 or revoke suspension of the licence and restore the utility to the distribution licensee whose licence had been suspended, as the case may be.
(4) In a case where the Appropriate Commission revokes the licence under sub-section (3), the utility of the distribution licensee shall be sold within a period of one year from the date of revocation of the licence in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 and the price after deducting the administrative and other expenses on sale of utilities be remitted to the distribution licensee.
References
[i] Substituted by Act 57 of 2003, S. 2 (w.e.f. 27-1-2004).
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