The Ministry of Power has recently issued a notification regarding the delegation of powers for approval under Sections 68 and 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The purpose of this delegation is to simplify and expedite the approval process within the ministry. The order, dated 12th February 2015, states that the Hon’ble Minister of Power & NRE has approved the following delegation of powers.
The power for approval under Section 68, which was previously vested with the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has now been delegated to the Joint Secretary (Transmission) of the Ministry of Power.
The power for approval under Section 164, also previously vested with the Chairperson of the CEA, has been delegated to the Joint Secretary (Transmission) of the Ministry of Power.
In addition to this delegation, the ministry has provided a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for obtaining approvals under Sections 68 and 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The SOP outlines the process and guidelines for obtaining approvals in accordance with the mentioned sections.
These measures aim to streamline the approval process, ensuring more efficient decision-making within the Ministry of Power. The revised SOP serves as a comprehensive guide for stakeholders seeking approvals under the relevant provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Furthermore, the ministry has specified the procedure for obtaining prior approval under Section 68 and approval under Section 164 in two separate annexures. These annexures outline the requirements and steps involved in obtaining approvals for inter-state transmission projects, dedicated transmission lines, and other related matters.
Stakeholders, including inter-state transmission licensees, special purpose vehicle companies, and generation companies, are required to submit their proposals, duly completed, to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) through the National Single Window System (NSWS) portal. The applications will be processed and reviewed by the CEA, with their recommendations forwarded to the Ministry of Power for final approval.
This simplified and transparent process, along with the revised SOP, aims to facilitate the timely approval of projects and encourage private sector participation in the development of the power transmission infrastructure.
View the order document here:
, and the steps stakeholders need to follow for obtaining approvals. Find out how these measures promote efficiency and encourage private sector participation in the power transmission infrastructure.){kind=link}