Indian Electricity Act, 2003
An Act to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking measures conducive to development of electricity industry, promoting competition therein, protecting interest of consumers and supply of electricity to all areas, rationalisation of electricity tariff, ensuring transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies, constitution of Central Electricity Authority, Regulatory Commissions and establishment of Appellate Tribunal and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Chapter I: Preliminary
- 1 Short title, extent and commencement
- 2 Definitions 14 judgments
Chapter II: National Electricity Policy and Plan
- 3 National Electricity Policy and Plan 4 judgments
- 4 National policy on stand alone systems for rural areas and non-conventional energy systems
- 5 National policy on electrification and local distribution in rural areas
- 6 Joint responsibility of State Government and Central Government in rural electrification
Chapter III: Generation of Electricity
- 7 Generating company and requirement for setting up of generating station
- 8 Hydro-electric generation 1 judgment
- 9 Captive generation 2 judgments
- 10 Duties of generating companies 1 judgment
- 11 Directions to generating companies 1 judgment
Chapter IV: Licensing
- 12 Authorised persons to transmit, supply, etc., electricity 2 judgments
- 13 Power to exempt
- 14 Grant of licence 8 judgments
- 15 Procedure for grant of licence 2 judgments
- 16 Conditions of licence
- 17 Licensee not to do certain things
- 18 Amendment of licence
- 19 Revocation of licence
- 20 Sale of utilities of licensees
- 21 Vesting of utility in purchaser
- 22 Provisions where no purchase takes place 1 judgment
- 23 Directions to licensees 1 judgment
- 24 Suspension of distribution licence and sale of utility
Chapter V: Transmission of Electricity
Intra-State transmission
- 25 Inter-State, regional and inter-regional transmission
- 26 National Load Despatch Centre
- 27 Constitution of Regional Load Despatch Centre
- 28 Functions of Regional Load Despatch Centre 1 judgment
- 29 Compliance of directions 1 judgment
Inter-State transmission
- 30 Transmission within a State
- 31 Constitution of State Load Despatch Centres 2 judgments
- 32 Functions of State Load Despatch Centres 1 judgment
- 33 Compliance of directions
Other provisions relating to transmission
- 34 Grid Standards
- 35 Intervening transmission facilities
- 36 Charges for intervening transmission facilities
- 37 Directions by Appropriate Government
- 38 Central Transmission Utility and functions
- 39 State Transmission Utility and functions
- 40 Duties of transmission licensees
- 41 Other business of transmission licensee 1 judgment
Chapter VI: Distribution of Electricity
Provisions with respect to distribution licensees
- 42 Duties of distribution licensee and open access 7 judgments
- 43 Duty to supply on request 5 judgments
- 44 Exceptions from duty to supply electricity
- 45 Power to recover charges 1 judgment
- 46 Power to recover expenditure 1 judgment
- 47 Power to require security
- 48 Additional terms of supply
- 49 Agreements with respect to supply or purchase of electricity
- 50 The Electricity supply code 4 judgments
- 51 Other businesses of distribution licensees 2 judgments
Provisions with respect to electricity traders
Provisions with respect to supply generally
- 53 Provision relating to safety and electricity supply
- 54 Control of transmission and use of electricity 1 judgment
- 55 Use, etc., of meters
- 56 Disconnection of supply in default of payment 8 judgments
Consumer protection: Standards of performance
Chapter VII: Tariff
- 61 Tariff regulations 14 judgments
- 62 Determination of tariff 17 judgments
- 63 Determination of tariff by bidding process 19 judgments
- 64 Procedure for tariff order 6 judgments
- 65 Provision of subsidy by State Government 4 judgments
- 66 Development of market
Chapter VIII: Works
Works of licensees
Provisions relating to overhead lines
- 68 Overhead lines 2 judgments
- 69 Notice to telegraph authority 1 judgment
Chapter IX: Central Electricity Authority
Constitution and functions of Authority
- 70 Constitution, etc., of Central Electricity Authority
- 71 Members not to have certain interest
- 72 Officers and staff of Authority
- 73 Functions and duties of Authority 1 judgment
Certain powers and directions
Chapter X: Regulatory Commissions
Constitution, powers and functions of Central Commission
- 76 Constitution of Central Commission 1 judgment
- 77 Qualifications for appointment of Members of Central Commission
- 78 Constitution of Selection Committee to recommend Members
- 79 Functions of Central Commission 7 judgments
- 80 Central Advisory Committee
- 81 Objects of Central Advisory Committee
Constitution, powers and functions of State Commissions
- 82 Constitution of State Commission 5 judgments
- 83 Joint Commission 1 judgment
- 84 Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of State Commission 2 judgments
- 85 Constitution of Selection Committee to select Members of State Commission 2 judgments
- 86 Functions of State Commission 21 judgments
- 87 State Advisory Committee
- 88 Objects of State Advisory Committee
Appropriate Commission–Other provisions
Proceedings and powers of Appropriate Commission
- 91 Secretary, officers and other employees of Appropriate Commission
- 92 Proceedings of Appropriate Commission
- 93 Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings
- 94 Powers of Appropriate Commission 1 judgment
- 95 Proceedings before Commission 1 judgment
- 96 Powers of entry and seizure
- 97 Delegation
Grants, Fund and Accounts, Audit and Report
- 98 Grants and loans by Central Government
- 99 Establishment of Fund by Central Government
- 100 Accounts and audit of Central Commission
- 101 Annual report of Central Commission
- 102 Grants and Loans by State Government
- 103 Establishment of Fund by State Government
- 104 Accounts and audit of State Commission
- 105 Annual report of State Commission
- 106 Budget of Appropriate Commission
- 107 Directions by Central Government 3 judgments
- 108 Directions by State Government 4 judgments
- 109 Directions to Joint Commission
Chapter XI: Appellate Tribunal for Electricity
- 110 Establishment of Appellate Tribunal 3 judgments
- 111 Appeal to Appellate Tribunal 8 judgments
- 112 Composition of Appellate Tribunal
- 113 Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Member of Appellate Tribunal
- 114 Term of office
- 115 Terms and conditions of service
- 116 Vacancies
- 117 Resignation and removal
- 117A Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Chairperson and Member
- 118 Member to act as Chairperson in certain circumstances
- 119 Officers and other employees of Appellate Tribunal
- 120 Procedure and powers of Appellate Tribunal 1 judgment
- 121 Power of Appellate Tribunal 3 judgments
- 122 Distribution of business amongst Benches and transfer of cases from one Bench to another Bench
- 123 Decision to be by majority
- 124 Right of appellant to take assistance of legal practitioner and of Appropriate Commission to appoint presenting officers
- 125 Appeal to Supreme Court 43 judgments
Chapter XII: Investigation and Enforcement
- 126 Assessment 7 judgments
- 127 Appeal to Appellate Authority
- 128 Investigation of certain matters 1 judgment
- 129 Orders for securing compliance 1 judgment
- 130 Procedure for issuing directions by Appropriate Commission 1 judgment
Chapter XIII: Reorganisation of Board
Chapter XIV: Offences and Penalties
- 135 Theft of Electricity 5 judgments
- 136 Theft of electric lines and materials
- 137 Punishment for receiving stolen property
- 138 Interference with meters or works of licensee 1 judgment
- 139 Negligently breaking or damaging works
- 140 Penalty for intentionally injuring works 2 judgments
- 141 Omitted
- 142 Punishment for non-compliance of directions by Appropriate Commission
- 143 Power to adjudicate
- 144 Factors to be taken into account by adjudicating officer
- 145 Civil courts not to have jurisdiction 1 judgment
- 146 Punishment for non-compliance of orders or directions
- 147 Penalties not to affect other liabilities
- 148 Penalty where works belong to Government
- 149 Offences by companies
- 150 Abetment
- 151 Cognizance of offences 2 judgments
- 151A Power of police to investigate
- 151B Certain offences to be cognizable and non-bailable
- 152 Compounding of offences
Chapter XV: Special Courts
Chapter XVI: Dispute Resolution
Arbitration
- 158 Arbitration 1 judgment
Chapter XVII: Other Provisions
Protective clauses
- 159 Protection of railways, highways, airports and canals, docks, wharfs and piers
- 160 Protection of telegraphic, telephonic and electric signalling lines
- 161 Notice of accidents and injuries
- 162 Appointment of Chief Electrical Inspector and Electrical Inspector
- 163 Power for licensee to enter premises and to remove fittings or other apparatus of licensee
- 164 Exercise of powers of Telegraph Authority in certain cases 1 judgment
- 165 Amendment of sections 40 and 41 of Act 1 of 1894
Chapter XVIII: Miscellaneous
- 166 Coordination forum
- 167 Exemption of electric lines or electrical plants from attachment in certain cases
- 168 Protection of action taken in good faith
- 169 Members, officers, etc., of Appellate Tribunal, Appropriate Commission to be public servants
- 170 Recovery of penalty payable under this Act
- 171 Services of notices, orders or documents
- 172 Transitional provisions 1 judgment
- 173 Inconsistency in laws 3 judgments
- 174 Act to have overriding effect 4 judgments
- 175 Provisions of this Act to be in addition to and not in derogation of other laws 2 judgments
- 176 Power of Central Government to make rules 1 judgment
- 177 Powers of Authority to make regulations
- 178 Powers of Central Commission to make regulations 6 judgments
- 179 Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament
- 180 Powers of State Governments to make rules
- 181 Powers of State Commissions to make regulations 7 judgments
- 182 Rules and regulations to be laid before State Legislature
- 183 Power to remove difficulties
- 184 Provisions of Act not apply in certain cases
- 185 Repeal and saving 5 judgments
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.