Aishwarya Rathore-
The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, could come up for discussion and approval before the Union Cabinet in the coming days, as the government aims to introduce it during the monsoon session of Parliament, which concludes on August 13, 2021.
According to a Lok Sabha bulletin issued on July 12, 2021, the government has listed this bill as one of the new 17 bills it plans to introduce in the ongoing Parliament session.
The proposed amendments (to the Electricity Act) include de-licensing the distribution business and bringing in competition, the appointment of a member from a legal background to each Commission, the strengthening of APTEL (Appellate Tribunal For Electricity), and a penalty for non-compliance with RPOs, (Renewable Purchase Obligation).
The bill also prescribes the rights and duties of electricity consumers.
The proposal to seek the Cabinet approval for the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 was circulated in January this year, and the draft law was to be pushed for passage in the Budget session.
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