Background
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Regulations, 2023, were formulated under the Electricity Act, 2003 to enhance electrical safety and ensure proper operation of electrical installations across India. These regulations address both high- and low-voltage installations, specifying standards for design, installation, operation, maintenance, testing, and protection measures. They aim to prevent electrical accidents, reduce risk of fire and shock hazards, and ensure reliability in power supply systems. Key elements include mandatory earthing, use of residual current devices, periodic inspections, training of personnel, transformer and high-voltage installation safety, and automatic protection mechanisms in abnormal conditions.
Applicability:
These regulations apply to:
Compliance requirements under the Regulations in accordance with the Act
All earthing systems belonging to the supplier shall in addition, be tested for resistance on dry day during the dry season at least once in a year;
For every electrical installation including factory registered under the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1952) with more than 250 kW connected load and mines and oil-field as defined in the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952), with more than 2000 kW connected load, the owner of the installation or the management of the factory or mines, as the case may be, shall designate Electrical Safety Officer under sub-regulation (1) and having qualification and experience specified in sub-regulation (2), for ensuring the compliance of the safety provisions laid under the Act and the regulations made thereunder:
The Electrical Safety Officer must conduct periodic tests as per relevant standards and inspect installations at least once a year. Records must be maintained in Form I, II, III, or IV of Schedule II, along with test reports and a register of safety recommendations acknowledged by the owner and details of subsequent compliance. These records must be made available to the Electrical Inspector upon request.
The owner of every generating station shall arrange for training of personnel engaged or appointed to operate and undertake maintenance of the generating station from its own institute or any other institute recognised by the Authority or State Government as per the guidelines
Every generating station owner must ensure training of operation and maintenance personnel through its own institute or one recognized by the Authority or State Government, as per prescribed guidelines.
No electrical installation work, including additions, alterations, repairs and adjustments to existing installations, except such replacement of lamps, fans, fuses, switches, domestic appliances of voltage not exceeding 250 V and fittings as in no way alters its capacity or character, shall be carried out upon the premises of or on behalf of any consumer, supplier, owner or occupier for the purpose of supply to such consumer, supplier, owner or occupier except by an electrical contractor licenced in this behalf by the State Government and on its behalf under the direct supervision of a person holding a certificate of competency and by a person holding a permit issued or recognised by the State Government
Electrical work, except minor replacements under 250V that don’t change the system’s capacity, must be done by a State-licensed contractor under the supervision of a certified person with a valid permit from the State Government.
No electrical installation work, including additions, alterations, repairs and adjustments to existing installations, except such replacement of lamps, fans, fuses, switches, domestic appliances of voltage not exceeding 250 V and fittings as in no way alters its capacity or character, shall be carried out upon the premises of or on behalf of any consumer, supplier, owner or occupier for the purpose of supply to such consumer, supplier, owner or occupier except by an electrical contractor licenced in this behalf by the State Government and on its behalf under the direct supervision of a person holding a certificate of competency and by a person holding a permit issued or recognised by the State Government
Electrical work, except minor replacements under 250V that don’t change the system’s capacity, must be done by a State-licensed contractor under the supervision of a certified person with a valid permit from the State Government.
No electrical installation work, including additions, alterations, repairs and adjustments to existing installations, except such replacement of lamps, fans, fuses, switches, domestic appliances of voltage not exceeding 250 V and fittings as in no way alters its capacity or character, shall be carried out upon the premises of or on behalf of any consumer, supplier, owner or occupier for the purpose of supply to such consumer, supplier, owner or occupier except by an electrical contractor licenced in this behalf by the State Government and on its behalf under the direct supervision of a person holding a certificate of competency and by a person holding a permit issued or recognised by the State Government
Electrical work, except minor replacements under 250V that don’t change the system’s capacity, must be done by a State-licensed contractor under the supervision of a certified person with a valid permit from the State Government.
Before starting or reconnecting electricity supply after disconnection of six months or more, the owner/occupier of a multi-storeyed building must give the Electrical Inspector at least 30 days’ written notice with installation details. Supply shall not commence without written approval from the Electrical Inspector.
Supply or reconnection after 6 months for installations above 650V shall not be authorised unless: conductors and apparatus are inaccessible to unauthorised persons; supplier equipment is housed in a separate locked, weatherproof and fireproof enclosure with unrestricted supplier access; where a separate enclosure is impracticable, supplier equipment shall be properly segregated, including by fire walls if required by the Electrical Inspector; and pole-type substations are constructed and maintained as per prescribed standards.
The supplier, consumer, installation owner, mine manager, oil-field operator, or contractor shall designate competent persons to operate and carry out work on electrical lines and apparatus. A register (physical or electronic) of designated persons and their purpose shall be maintained. No person shall be designated unless they hold a certificate of competency or electrical work permit issued by the Appropriate Government and their name is entered in the register.
All electricity suppliers — including generating, transmission, and distribution companies — shall designate an Electrical Safety Officer to ensure compliance with safety measures for construction, operation, and maintenance of generating stations, transmission lines, substations, distribution systems, and supply lines. The officer must hold a degree in Electrical Engineering with at least five years’ experience, or a Diploma in Electrical Engineering with at least ten years’ experience in operation and maintenance of electrical installations.
Engineers and supervisors engaged in the operation or maintenance of generating stations shall hold a relevant engineering degree or diploma from a recognised institute/university and complete Authority-specified training within two years of appointment. Existing employees, as on the date of notification, who assist Engineers or Supervisors but lack the prescribed qualification shall undergo training from the Power Sector Skill Council or an Authority-recognised institute within two years.
The owner of every generating station shall arrange training of operation and maintenance personnel through their own or a recognised institute as per Authority guidelines, maintain assessment records in the prescribed format, and produce such records before the Electrical Inspector when required. Owners of generating stations below 100 MW with their own training institutes may customise the training syllabus, subject to intimation to the Authority.
Engineers and Supervisors at transmission and distribution systems must hold a relevant engineering degree or diploma and complete CEA-prescribed training within 2 years of engagement. Technicians must hold an ITI certificate in the appropriate trade and complete prescribed training within 2 years. Owners must arrange training through their own or a recognised institute, maintain assessment records, and produce such records to the Electrical Inspector when required.
All Load Despatch Centre (LDC) control room personnel must hold a degree or diploma in Electrical Engineering or a related trade from a recognised institute/university. Load despatchers shall be trained and certified through Authority-recognised agencies within six months of engagement; no person shall act as load despatcher without certification. Existing personnel shall be trained within two years from commencement of these Regulations. Personnel other than load despatchers shall undergo requisite training within six months of engagement. The LDC shall submit annual details of certified load despatchers and training status of other personnel to the Secretary, Central Electricity Authority.
The generating company or licensee shall maintain records of maps, plans, and sections relating to the supply or transmission of electricity in physical or digital form and provide them to the Electrical Inspector for inspection when required.
Every licensee shall, within 30 days of the grant of licence, keep physical or digital copies of the licence and supply area maps for public inspection at all reasonable times at its head office, local offices, and offices of local authorities within the area of supply. The licensee shall supply one free copy of the licence and relevant maps to every local authority within the area of supply, and shall arrange for sale of copies at prices notified by the Appropriate Government.
After commencing supply, the licensee shall prepare an area-of-supply plan (physical or digital) marking all supply lines and underground works, correct the plan annually, keep the corrected and dated plan at the principal office open for inspection at all times, and ensure all plans are GPS-compatible. Free duplicate copies shall be supplied to the Electrical Inspector or local authority if required; copies shall be supplied to applicants on payment of Commission-specified fee.
All electric supply lines and apparatus shall be of sufficient power rating, insulation, fault current capacity, and mechanical strength for the duty cycle and environment. They shall be constructed, installed, protected, operated, and maintained to ensure safety of persons, animals, and property. Relevant national standards including the National Electrical Code and National Building Code shall be followed; where Indian standards are unavailable, international standards shall apply. All electrical equipment shall be installed above the Highest Flood Level.
The supplier shall ensure all supply lines, wires, fittings, and apparatus under their control up to the point of supply on consumer premises are safe and fit for use, and shall take necessary precautions to prevent any danger from such installations. Underground or accessible service lines shall be insulated and protected against electrical, mechanical, chemical, or other injury. Consumers shall take precautions for the safe custody of the supplier’s equipment on their premises.
The supplier shall provide suitable switchgear in each conductor of every service line (other than earthed/neutral/external conductors) within consumer premises, installed in an accessible position and enclosed in an adequately protected fireproof receptacle. Where more than one consumer is supplied through a common service line, each consumer shall be provided with an independent switchgear at the point of rigid junction.
The owner shall permanently identify the earthed or neutral conductor to distinguish it from live conductors as per relevant standards. No cut-out, link, switch, or circuit breaker other than a linked switch arranged to operate simultaneously on the earthed or earthed neutral conductor and live conductors shall be inserted in any earthed or earthed neutral conductor, except links for testing purposes or switches for controlling a generator or transformer.
The supplier shall provide and maintain on the consumer’s premises a suitable earthed terminal in an accessible position at or near the point of commencement of supply. For installations exceeding 250V, the consumer shall additionally provide an independent earthing system with a separate electrode interlinked with the supplier’s earthed terminal through a suitable link. The consumer shall take reasonable precautions to prevent mechanical damage to the earthed terminal and its lead.
Where bare conductors are used in a building, the owner shall: (a) ensure they are inaccessible to the general public; (b) provide switches in readily accessible positions for rendering them dead whenever necessary; and (c) take such other safety measures as are specified in the relevant standards.
The owner of every installation exceeding 250V shall affix a permanent danger notice with the sign of skull and bones, in Hindi, English, and the local language, at conspicuous positions on all motors, generators, transformers, and equipment, together with apparatus used for controlling or regulating the same. Notices shall also be affixed on all supports of overhead lines exceeding 650V which can be easily climbed without a ladder, and on luminous tube sign installations above 650V up to 33 kV.
Before handling any conductor or apparatus, adequate precautions — such as earthing or other suitable means — shall be taken to discharge and prevent accidental energisation. Every person working on electric supply lines or apparatus shall be provided with suitable PPE, tools, and safety devices (including gloves, footwear, helmets, earthing devices, voltage detectors, hand tools, and arc-flash protection) conforming to relevant standards. All non-current carrying metal parts of switchgear and control panels shall be properly earthed, with insulating mats or floors provided at front and rear for safe operation.
The owner of every vehicle, travelling crane, or similar equipment to which electricity is supplied from an external source shall provide a switch enabling all voltage to be cut off in one operation. Where such equipment runs on metal rails, the owner shall ensure the rails are electrically continuous and earthed at multiple points to ensure equipotential safety.
Flexible cables shall not be used for portable or transportable equipment such as motors, generators, transformers, rectifiers, drills, sprayers, or welding sets unless they are properly insulated for the required voltage as per standards and adequately protected against mechanical damage. Where protection is by metallic covering, the covering shall be in metallic connection with the frame of the apparatus and earthed. Cables shall be three-core (single phase) or four-core (three phase) type, with the earth core easily identifiable.
Where a supplier or owner uses a non-overhead electric supply line not fully enclosed in earthed metallic covering, any conduit or pipe shall be effectively sealed at entry into street boxes to prevent gas flow, unless otherwise approved. The line shall be periodically inspected, tested, and results recorded. No further electric supply line insulated by any composition likely to produce noxious or explosive gases on excessive heating shall be brought into use.
Street boxes shall not contain gas pipes and shall be protected against ingress of water or gas. Where supply lines of different systems pass through the same street box, they shall be clearly identifiable and adequately supported and protected to prevent damage or danger from adjacent lines. All boxes shall be regularly inspected for presence of gas; if detected, immediate notice shall be given to the gas pipeline owner. Covers and doors shall be kept closed, locked, and openable only by key or special appliance. Street or pillar boxes shall be erected with live parts at least 0.6 m above ground or local flood level, whichever is higher.
The owner of every generating station, substation, junction box, or pillar box shall ensure by means of permanent indication that all circuits or apparatus — whether at the same or different voltages — are clearly and easily distinguishable from each other.
The owner of every installation — including substations, double pole structures, four pole structures, or any other structure having more than one feed — shall ensure by means of permanent indication that the installation is readily distinguishable from other installations.
The owners of all circuits and apparatus shall arrange them such that no part thereof becomes accidentally charged to any voltage beyond the limits for which it is intended. Where alternating current and direct current circuits are installed on the same box or support, they shall be arranged and protected so as to prevent contact with each other.
In all generating stations, enclosed substations, and switching stations: dry sand fire buckets shall be kept at convenient conspicuously marked locations; appropriate fire extinguishers shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected, and tested per relevant standards, with test records maintained. Sufficient first-aid boxes shall be provided and kept under trained personnel during working hours. Gas masks (minimum two) shall be provided at generating stations ≥5 MW and substations ≥5 MVA. Contact details of the nearest doctor, hospital, ambulance, and fire service shall be displayed near the shock treatment chart.
Owners of every generating station, enclosed substation, enclosed switching station, mine, and factory or premises to which these regulations apply shall affix electric shock resuscitation instructions prominently, displayed in English/Hindi and the local language. All designated persons and persons engaged in operating and maintaining electrical plants or transmission/distribution systems shall be acquainted with and competent to apply these instructions.
Upon application for new/additional supply or reconnection after 6 months, the supplier shall test the installation or accept results signed by a licensed contractor; for notified voltage or below, a Chartered Electrical Safety Engineer may test on the owner’s request. Testing and verification shall be as per relevant standards, with testing equipment calibrated by an accredited laboratory. Records of test results shall be maintained per Schedule III forms. If the installation is likely to be dangerous, the supplier shall serve written notice requiring modifications and may refuse connection until rectified.
The capacity above which generating units — including renewable energy generating units — shall be required to be inspected by the Electrical Inspector before commissioning shall be as per the notification issued by the Appropriate Government.
The supplier shall not connect supply to any installation unless satisfied that no unsafe leakage exists, verified by insulation resistance testing as per relevant standards. If the supplier declines to make the connection, the reasons shall be conveyed to the applicant in writing.
If leakage in a consumer’s installation is suspected, the Electrical Inspector or supplier may issue written notice for inspection/testing. If access is denied or insulation is found unsafe, supply may be disconnected after 48 hours’ notice and restored only after defects are rectified to the satisfaction of the Electrical Inspector or supplier.
Electricity shall not be supplied, transformed, converted, inverted, or used unless the conditions prescribed in Regulation 37(2) to (8) are complied with. These include: a suitable control device installed near the supply point for complete isolation (Switch-fuse unit or circuit breaker by the consumer for below 11 kV; circuit breaker for 11 kV and above); proper protection against excess energy using suitable fuses or circuit breakers; accessible linked switches or emergency trips for each motor or machine; appropriate insulating materials; live parts not exposed to danger; and prevention of unauthorised interference by consumers.
Suppliers shall design and sectionalise supply lines with suitably located switchgear and circuit breakers so that any failure under normal conditions affects only a limited portion of the system. The supplier shall take reasonable precautions to prevent accidental supply interruptions and notify the Electrical Inspector of supply failures in the prescribed form. Supply may be discontinued for testing or operational needs with at least 24 hours’ notice to affected consumers, except in emergencies.
Where an electric supply line for use at voltages not exceeding 650V has been disconnected for the purpose of addition, alteration, or repair, such line shall not be reconnected to the system until the supplier or owner has carried out the required insulation resistance testing.
For systems above 50V up to 650V, neutral or middle conductors shall be properly earthed as per standards, including additional earthing points on distribution lines. AC systems connected to earth shall be electrically interconnected and bonded to metallic sheathing or armouring. Generators, motors, transformers, control equipment, and appliances above 250V up to 650V shall be earthed through two separate connections. In new or renovated installations up to 250V, all plug sockets shall be 3-pin type with permanent earthing. Earthing and loop impedance tests shall be conducted before energisation, with records maintained for at least two years.
Before applying for commencement or recommencement of supply above notified voltage after disconnection of six months or more, the supplier shall ensure that installations are complete, tested, and compliant with applicable regulations. Supply shall not commence without written approval of the Electrical Inspector, except for testing purposes.
The owner of any installation of voltage above the notified voltage shall, before making application to the Electrical Inspector for approval, test every circuit (other than overhead lines) to verify it withstands the testing voltage set out in Regulation 48, duly record the results, and submit them to the Electrical Inspector.
The owner of any installation shall not connect to supply any apparatus or electric supply lines comprising additions or alterations unless such addition or alteration has been approved in writing by the Electrical Inspector or self-certified by the owner of the installation.
Electrical installations — including alterations, additions, and recommencement after shutdown for six months or more — in mines and oil-fields of 650V and above shall not be connected or reconnected without written approval of the Electrical Inspector of Mines. Installations below 650V shall be self-certified by the owner, agent, or manager before supply commencement or reconnection.
Penalty & Punishment
Section 146 of Electricity Act, 2003 –
Whoever fails to comply with any order or direction under this Act, or contravenes (or attempts/abets the contravention of) its provisions, rules, or regulations, faces punishment for each offense, which may include imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both. Additionally, for a failure that continues after an initial conviction, an extra fine of up to five thousand rupees will be levied for every day the non-compliance persists.
Conclusion
Compliance with the CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023, is mandatory to safeguard human life, prevent property damage, and ensure reliability of the electrical supply.
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