Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020

 Amendment to Electricity Act, 2003

Proposed Amendments:

Issues:

Proposed amendments appear to be leaning towards centralizing the electricity subject which is under
concurrent list and also likely to undermine consumer interest and affect industrial growth.

 Proposed Section 3A, leaving the consultation process with the states to the Centre, as it was
against the spirit of the Constitution.
o consultation with states should be mandatory,
 Proposal to let the Central committee select the State Electricity Regulatory
Commission Chairman and members, not only takes away the autonomy from the state, but also
is against the principle of decentralization of powers."
 Proposed Direct Benefit Transfer (of power subsidy) has potential to "create social unrest."
 Giving responsibility to NLDC to enforce contracts would mean taking sides with either one of
the litigating parties to the contract.
o SLDCs should be allowed autonomy to act within their jurisdiction as they handle the
day-to-day operations.
 There was no need for a redundant section on renewable energy policy as the existing National
Electricity Policy, under Section 3, already provided for policy-making on renewable energy.
o Two different policies on the same subject creates confusion at the implementation
level.
 Stipulating individual RPOs for different sources is not appropriate as different states will have
varying potentials of renewable energy and the states should be given an option from which
sources it will satisfy its RPO as a whole," 
o There should be one Renewable Power Obligation for all renewable energy sources
(hydro, solar, wind, etc.)