Union Cabinet approves various amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003

11 Dec 2014 Evaluate

To usher in much needed reforms in power sector, the Union Cabinet approved various amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003, as per the power ministry's proposed amendment bill, which among other thing would help consumers select a power supply company of their choice.

The amendments aim to promote competition, efficiency in operations, improve quality of supply of electricity in the country, which in turn would result in capacity addition and ultimately benefit the consumers. The proposed changes envisage strengthening the penalty provisions, increasing the penalty manifold and making them more enforceable. Power Minister Piyush Goyal had in the last week only hinted that the amendments would be tabled in the ongoing winter session of parliament. It had then suggested that government was planning to boost the wind energy sector, by introducing stricter penalties in the act for the players failing to meet renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets.

Under the RPO system, the state power distribution companies have to mandatorily purchase electricity generated through renewable energy sources during the year.

Further, the proposed changes in the electricity bill would also introduce the renewable generation obligation (RGO), which will make it compulsory for thermal power producers to generate electricity through renewable. The share of renewable energy is currently around 6 percent of a total base made up of 1 trillion units of electricity.

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