On 17/04/2020 the Ministry of Power has put on its website a notice for Amendment of Electricity Act 2003 and giving a time limit of 21 days for submission of comments and objections. We are very much surprised and shocked to see the timing of introduction of this Bill when whole country is fighting unitedly to combat COVID - 19 Pandemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi. You are kindly aware that Power engineers successfully, safely and securely controlled power grid on 05th April during switching off lights and handled unprecedented 31000 MW jerk in the system. Now with introduction of this Bill at this crisis juncture power engineers across the country are shocked & having resentment.

        Further since the proposed amendments are of fundamental nature, creating major changes in the structure of Electricity Act 2003, these are required to be studied and analyzed in depth. All India Engineers Federation (AIPEF) is of the confirmed opinion that comments, views and objections of all the stake holders must be obtained and given due  consideration by the Government of India . The most important stake holder, the Electricity consumer must be given a fair opportunity to submit the views and objections.

2.     The All India Engineers Federation being a body of power engineers manning the electricity sector of all the States, spanning power generation, transmission and distribution, gets the feedback from electricity consumers, and  other stake holders of power sector, particularly those who would be affected by the proposed amendment in Electricity Act 2003.

        While All India Engineers Federation has interaction with electricity consumers, on the one hand, we also deal with the generator, distribution licensees as well as Central and State govt. agencies in the power sector.

3.     Several of the proposed amendments have legal repercussions and would require in depth interaction with legal experts dealing with electricity laws.

4.     On power policy and ever increasing role of non conventional and renewable sources of energy, detail study and interaction would be necessary for giving our comments on these issues as well as the related aspects of global warming.

5.     To do justice to the various subjects covered in the proposed amendment, All India Power Engineers Federation would have to hold detailed interaction with the concerned stake holder as discussed in previous paras. Further, we would have to obtain the feedback from different constituent association of the state power engineers as well as regional Federations of power engineers so as to consolidate and incorporate the same in our response to the Government.  We would also have to hold a special meeting of the Federal Council (General Body Meeting) of All India Power Engineers Federation to finalise our response to proposed amendments which would represent the view point of power engineers across the country.

6.     However, due to the prevailing crisis of extended lock down and restrictions imposed by the Govt. of India, currently extended up to  03/05/2020, and may be relaxed in stages thereafter, it would be practically and physically impossible to carry out the exercise to discuss in detail and obtain feedback for submission of comments regarding the proposed amendment of Electricity Act 2003 within the time frame of 21 days proposed.

7.     Accordingly, All India Power Engineers Federation requests that the time period for submission of comments and objections to the proposed amendments of Electricity Act 2003 may kindly be extended up to 30/09/2020 or when situation is fully normalised. 

Thanking you with regards.

 Sincerely Yours

 Shailendra Dubey