Jammu, Mar 27: In what has been termed as an initiative to reform the power sector and encourage private participation, the government today tabled J&K Electricity Bill in the assembly.
 Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah introduced the Bill.
 The Bill seeks to consolidate the laws on generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity. It proposes measures for development of electricity industry, protecting consumer interests, taking electricity to all areas, rationalizing tariff and constitution of State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
 The proposed legislation has sought privatization of power generation, transmission and distribution.
 The new legislation, if passed, will pave way for private investments in the power sector in J&K.
 “Any company may establish, operate and maintain a generating station without obtaining a license under the Act if it complies with the technical standards relating to connectivity with the grid referred to in clause (b) of Section 73 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (Central)”, section 7 of the Bill reads.
 Section 9 of the Bill reads: “A person may construct, maintain or operate a captive generating, plant and dedicated transmission line/s. Provided that the supply of electricity from the captive generating plan through the grid shall be regulated in the same manner as the generating station of a generating company.”
 It reads: “No licence shall be required under the Act for supply of electricity generated from a captive generating plant to any licensee in accordance with the provisions of the Act and rules and regulations made thereunder and to any consumer, subject to the regulations made under sub-section (2) of section 36”.
 The Bill also seeks creation of `State Load Dispatch Center’ which shall be the Apex Body to ensure integrated operation of the power system in the state.
 As per the Bill the State Regulatory Commission will be empowered to grant licence to any person(s) to transmit electricity as a transmission licensee, distribute electricity as a distribution licensee or undertake trading in electricity as an electricity trader in any area as may be specified in the licence.
 Explaining the objectives of the Bill, the Minister said the existing J&K State Electricity Act, Samvat 1997 is not adequate to effect the reforms in the power sector and particularly to encourage the participation of private entrepreneurs in the sector. Besides, the Central Electricity Act, Samvat 1997 had been replaced by a new enactment in 2003”.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST