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What is the Electricity (Amendment) Bill?
Key specifications of the bill
The bill proposes a framework to allow consumers to choose between different service providers. It provides for the formation of the Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority (ECEA), which will deal with contract-related disputes in the electricity sector. Further, the bill proposes penalties in case of non-compliance by licensees in meeting the obligations. It requires all licensees to purchase or produce a minimum specified quantity from renewable energy sources as a percentage of their total electricity consumption. A selection committee would be constituted to appoint the chairperson and members of the Appellate Tribunal (APTEL), the central and state regulatory commissions (CERC, SERCs) and the ECEA, according to the bill.
A timeline of events
The Electricity Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2003. It covers issues related to the generation, distribution, transmission, and trading of power in the country. The Centre is expected to introduce the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in the 2022 monsoon session of the Parliament. The session is due to begin on July 18 and will commence on August 13.
Opposition to the bill
Several bodies and political parties have opposed the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Ahead of the monsoon session 2022, the All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF) wrote to the Union Power Minister R K Singh and Chief Ministers of all states, requesting to stop the bill. The federation suggested the government hold discussions with electricity sector workers and power consumers. The bill faces criticism that it would dilute the power of the states and shift it to the Centre and its agencies. Critics further say the bill allows private players an easy entry into the electricity sector, thus granting them an undue advantage.
Latest Updates on Electricity (Amendment) Bill
"The AIPEF is opposing the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in the larger interest of the consumer and the power sector itself," said Dubey
He alleged that the BJP government was showing arrogance towards other parties and pointed out that it came to power at the Centre with just 36 per cent votes
India's power network will soon be more future-ready and insulated from cyber attacks with the provision of routine inspections and timely action under the Electricity Amendment Bill
The Delhi Police increased security at the Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders as hundreds of farmers from different states started reaching the national capital ahead of the 'mahapanchayat'
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The govt wants to usher in 'much-needed reforms' in the power distribution sector with the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. But the Bill met with stiff resistance. Here's both sides of the debate
Kejriwal termed the proposed amendments to Electricity Act as "dangerous" and urged the Centre to not go ahead with it in haste, claiming that it will only benefit a few power distribution companies
The state power entity CEB engineers had given notice of a strike to protest the amendments becoming law
The upcoming Assembly elections seem to have derailed the govt's plan to bring reforms through Parliament. Of the 26 Bills that the govt had planned to pass, just 10 could see the light of the day
TMC chief and WB CM Mamata Banerjee has written to PM Modi urging him to refrain from placing the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in Parliament and called the Bill as "anti-people".
Union Cabinet is likely to take up for approval the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the next few days, which seeks to enable power consumers to choose from multiple service providers
On the agenda are detailed talks on three farm laws, MSP procurement system and Electricity Amendment bill, and ordinance to tackle air pollution in and around Delhi-NCR
They also demanded withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020
Proposed Bill takes away certain powers of the State government, and seeks to bring in changes in the existing Electricity Act that would make power utilities in the public sector totally unviable
The unions say the date of the demonstration will be declared shortly
The power ministry will push Electricity Amendment Bill in forthcoming Budget session, which provides for segregating the distribution network business
I have a roadmap for reforms in power sector: R K Singh
The National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers flayed the Centre for failing to address burning issues of the energy sector