PRELIMINARY
Rule-1. Short title and commencement:
(1) These rules may be called the
Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.
(2) They shall come into force at
once.
Rule-2. Definitions:
(1) In these rules, unless the
context otherwise requires,
(a) “The Act” means
the Indian Electricity Act, 1910;
(b)
“Accessible” means within physical reach without the use of any appliance or
special effort;
(c) “Ampere”
means a unit of electric current and is the unvarying electric current which
when passed through a solution of nitrate of silver in water, in accordance
with the specification set out in Annexure I, deposits silver at the rate of
0.001118 of a grams per second; the aforesaid unit is equivalent to the current
which, in passing through the suspended coil of wire forming part of the
instrument marked “Government of India Ampere Standard Verified” when the
suspended coil is in its sighted position, exerts a force which is exactly
balanced by the force exerted by gravity in Calcutta on the counter balancing
iridio-platinum weight of the said instrument;
(d) “Annexure”
means an Annexure to these rules;
(e)
“Apparatus” means electrical apparatus and includes all machines, fittings,
accessories and appliances in which conductors are used;
(ee) 1[“Authorised
person” means a person authorised under rule 3;]
(f) “Bare”
means not covered with insulating materials;
(g) “Cable”
means a length of insulated single conductor (solid or stranded or of two or
more such conductors, each provided with its own insulation, which are laid up
together. Such insulated conductor or conductors may or may not be provided
with an overall mechanical protective covering;
(gg) “Flexible
cable” means a cable consisting of one or more cores each formed of a group of
wires, the diameter and the physical properties of the wires and the insulating
materials being such as to afford flexibility;
(h) “Circuit”
means an arrangement of conductor or conductors for the purpose of conveying
energy and forming a system or a branch of a system;
(i) “Circuit
breaker” means a device, capable of making and breaking the circuit under all
conditions, and unless otherwise specified, so designed as to break the current
automatically under abnormal conditions;
(j)
“Concentric cable” means a composite cable comprising an inner conductor which
is insulated and one or more outer conductors which are insulated from one
another and are disposed over the insulation of, and more or less around, the
inner conductor;
(k)
“Conductor” means any wire, cable, bar, tube, rail or plate used for conducting
energy and so arranged as to be electrically connected to a system;
(l) “Conduit”
means rigid or flexible metallic tubing or mechanically strong and fire
resisting non-metallic tubing into which a cable or cables may be drawn for the
purpose of affording it or them mechanical protection;
(m) “Covered
with insulating material” means adequately covered with insulating material of
such quality and thickness as to prevent danger;
(n) “Cut-out”
means any appliance for automatically interrupting the transmission of energy
through any conductor when the current rises above a predetermined amount, and
shall also include fusible cut-out;
(o) “Danger”
means danger to health or danger to life or any part of body from shock, burn
or other injury to persons, or property, or from fire or explosion, attendant
upon the generation, transmission, transformation, conversion, distribution or
use of energy;
(p) “Dead”
means at or about earth potential and disconnected from any live system;
Provided that
apparatus separated from a live conductor by a spark gap shall not be deemed to
be “dead”;
NOTE:
The term “dead” is used only with reference to current carrying parts when
these parts are not live.
(q) “Earthed”
or “connected with earth” means connected with the general mass of earth in
such manner as to ensure at all times an immediate discharge of energy without
danger;
(r) “Earthing
system” means an electrical system in which all the conductors are earthed;
(s) 2[Deleted].
(t) “Enclosed
sub-station” means any premises or enclosure or part thereof, being large
enough to admit the entrance of a person after the apparatus therein is in
position, containing apparatus for transforming or converting energy to or from
a voltage at or above medium voltage (other than transforming or converting
solely for the operation of switchgear or instruments) with or without any
other apparatus for switching, controlling or otherwise regulating the energy,
and includes the apparatus therein;
(u) “Enclosed
switch-station” means any premises or enclosure or part thereof, being large
enough to admit the entrance of a person after the apparatus therein is in
position, containing apparatus for switching, controlling or otherwise
regulating energy at or above medium voltage but not for transforming or
converting energy (other than for transforming or converting solely for the
operation of switchgear or instruments), and includes the apparatus therein;
(uu) 3[“Flameproof
enclosure” means an enclosure for electrical machinery or apparatus that will
withstand, when the covers or other access doors are properly secured, an
internal explosion of the inflammable gas or vapour which may enter or
originate inside the enclosure, without suffering damage and without
communicating the internal Flammarion (or explosion) to the external
inflammable gas or vapour in which it is designed to be used, through any
joints or other structural openings in the closure];
(v) “Guarded”
means covered, shielded, fenced or otherwise protected by means of suitable casings, barrier, rails or
metal screens to remove the possibility of dangerous contact or approach by
persons or objects to a point of danger;
(vv) 4[“Hand-held
portable apparatus” means an apparatus which is so designed as to be capable of
being held in the hands and moved while connected to a supply of electricity];
(w)
“Inspector” means an Electrical Inspector appointed under section 36;
(x) “Inspector
of Mines” means an Inspector appointed under the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);
(y)
“Installation” means any composite electrical unit used for the purpose of
generating, transforming, transmitting, converting, distributing or utilizing
energy;
(z)
“Intrinsically safe” as applied to apparatus or associated circuits shall
denote that any sparking that may occur in normal working is incapable of
causing explosion of inflammable gas or vapour;
(aa) “Lighting
arrestor” means a device which has the property of diverting to earth any
electrical surge of excessively high amplitude applied to its terminals and is
capable of interrupting follow current if present and restoring itself
thereafter to its original operating conditions;
(aaa) 5[“Linked
switch” means a switch with all the poles mechanically linked so as to operate
simultaneously];
(ab) “Live”
means electrically charged;
(ac) “Metallic
covering” means mechanically strong metal covering surrounding one or more
conductors;
(ad) 6[“Neutral
conductor” means that conductor of a multi-wire system, the voltage of which is
normally intermediate between the voltages of the other conductors of the
system and shall also include return wire of the single phase system];
(ae)
“Non-licensee” means a person generating, supplying, transmitting or using
energy to whom any of the provisions of Part III of the Act apply;
(af) “Occupier”
means the owner or person in occupation of the premises where energy is used or
proposed to be used;
(aff) 7[“Officer
appointed to assist the Inspector” means an officer appointed under rule 4A];
(ag) “Ohm”
means a unit of electric resistance and is the resistance offered to an
unvarying electric current by a column of mercury at the temperature of melting
ice 14.4521 grams in mass of an uniform cross-sectional area and of a length of
106.3 centimetres; the aforesaid unit is represented by the resistance between
the terminals of the instrument marked “Government of India Ohm Standard
Verified” to the passage of an electric current when the coil of wire, forming
part of the aforesaid instrument and connected to the aforesaid terminals is in
all parts at a temperature of 30OC;
(ah) “Open
sparking” means sparking which owing to the lack of adequate provisions for
preventing the ignition of inflammable gas external to the apparatus would
ignite such inflammable gas;
(ai) “Overhead
line” means any electric supplying, which is placed above ground and in the
open air but excluding live rails of a traction system;
(aj) “Owner”,
“agent” and “manager” of a mine have the same meanings as are assigned to them
in the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);
(ak) 8[“Portable
apparatus” means an apparatus which is so designed as to be capable of being
moved while in operation];
(al) “Portable
hand lamp” means a portable light-fitting provided with suitable handle, guard
and flexible cord connected to a plug;
(am) “Section”
means a section of the Act;
(an) “Span”
means the horizontal distance between two adjacent supporting points of an
overhead conductor;
(ao) “Street
box” means a totally enclosed structure, either above or below ground
containing apparatus for transforming, switching, controlling or otherwise
regulating energy;
(ap)
“Supplier” means a licensee, a non-licensee or any other supplier of energy, 9[including
the Government];
(aq) “Switch”
means a manually operated device for opening and closing or for changing the
connection of a circuit;
(aqa) 10[“Switchboard”
means an assembly including the switchgear for the control of electrical
circuits, electric connections and the supporting frame];
(ar)
“Switchgear” shall denote switches, circuit breakers, cut-outs and other
apparatus used for the operation, regulation and control of circuits;
(as) “System”
means an electrical system in which all the conductors and apparatus are
electrically connected to a common source of electric supply;
(at)
“Transportable apparatus” means apparatus which is operated in a fixed position
but which is so designed as to be capable of being moved readily from one place
to another;
(au) “Volt”
means a unit of electromotive force and is the electric pressure, which, when
steadily applied to a conductor, the resistance of which is one ohm, will
produce a current of one ampere;
(av) “Voltage”
means the difference of electric potential measured in volts between any two
conductors or between any part of either conductor and the earth as measured by
a suitable voltmeter and is said to be;
“Low” where
the voltage does not exceed 250 volts under normal conditions subject, however,
to the percentage variation allowed by these rules;
“Medium” where
the voltage does not exceed 650 volts under normal conditions subject, however,
to the percentage variation allowed by these rules;
“High” where
the voltage does not exceed 33,000 volts under normal conditions subject,
however, to the percentage variation allowed by these rules;
“Extra high”
where the voltage exceeds 33,000 volts under normal conditions subject,
however, to the percentage variation allowed by these rules.
(2) All other words and
expressions used herein and not defined shall have the meanings respectively
assigned to them in the Act.
Rule-3. Authorisation:
(1) A supplier or a consumer, or
the owner, agent or manager of a mine, or the agent of any company operating in
an oil-field or the owner of a drilled well in an oil-field or a contractor for
the time being under contract with a supplier or a consumer to carry out duties
incidental to the generation, transformation, transmission, conversion,
distribution or use of energy may authorise any person for the purpose of any
or all of the following, namely:
Sub-rule (2) of rule 36, clause
(a) sub-rule (1) of rule 51, clause (a) of sub-rule (1) and 11[clauses
(e) 12[and
(f)] of sub-rule (2)] of rule 64, sub rule (2) of rule 110, sub rules (1) and (4) of rule 121, sub-rule (4) of rule
123, rule 124 and sub-rule (8) of rule 125.
(2) 13[No person shall be authorised
under sub-rule (1) unless he is competent to perform the duties assigned to him
and possesses either an appropriate certificate of competency or permit to
work].
(2A)
14[(a)
No person shall be authorised to operate or undertake maintenance of any part
or whole of a generating station of capacity 100 MW and above together with the
associated sub-station unless he is adequately qualified and has successfully
undergone the type of training specified in Annexure XIV;
Provided that
the provisions contained in this sub-rule shall have effect in respect of the
persons already authorised to operate or undertake maintenance of any part or
whole of a generating station as aforesaid from the date to be specified by the
appropriate Government, but such a date shall not be later than a period of 15[6
years, 2 months] from the date this rule comes into force.
(b) The
appropriate Government may, on the recommendations of the owner of such
generating station, relax the conditions stipulated in clause (a) of this sub
rule for any engineer and such other person who have already sufficient experience
in the operation and maintenance of a generating station.
(c) The owner
of a generating station, in consultation with Central Electricity Authority may
alter the duration and manner of training in respect of those persons who have
been already engaged in the operation and maintenance of a generating station
or a sub-station].
(2B) 16[The provisions
contained in rule 3(2A) will also be applicable in respect of other sub-stations
of 132 KV and above from a date to be specified by the appropriate Government
but such a date shall not be later than 3 years from which this rule comes into
force].
(3) No person shall be deemed to
be authorised under sub-rule (1) unless his name has been entered in a list
maintained at the office or premises of the person authorizing him, and giving
the purpose for which such person is authorised and the entry has been attested
by the authorised person and the person authorising him.
(4) Every list maintained under
sub-rule (3) shall be produced before an Inspector 17[or any officer of a
specified rank and class appointed to assist the Inspector] when required.
(5) 18[An Inspector may
cancel or amend, in such manner as he considers necessary, any authorisation,
made under sub-rule (1).
(6) 19[In every registered
factory, where more than 250 KW of electrical load is connected, there shall be
a person authorised by the management of the factory for ensuring the
observance of the safety provisions laid under the Act and the rules made
thereunder, who shall periodically inspect such installation, get them tested
and keep a record thereof and such records shall be made available to the Inspector
2[or any officer of a specified rank and class appointed to assist the Inspector],
if and when required].
1. Ins. by G.S.R. 1723, Date. 21.11.1977, with
effect from: 31.12.1977.
2. Clause (s) omitted by GSR 523, Date. 28.3.1966,
with effect from: 9.4.1966.
3. Ins. by G.S.R. 45, Date. 1.1.1993, with effect from: 23.1.1993.
4. Ins. by G.S.R. 225, Date. 10.2.1961, with effect
from: 25.2.1961.
5. Ins. by G.S.R. 523, Date. 28.3.1966, with effect
from: 9.4.1966.
6. Subs. by G.S.R. 522, Date. 17.3.1970, with
effect from: 4.4.1970.
7. Ins. by G.S.R. 336, Date, 28.3.1988, with effect
from: 23.4.1988.
8. Subs. by G.S.R. 225, Date. 10.02.1969,
9. Ins. by G.S.R. 1640, Date. 26.9.1963, with
effect from: 12.10.1963.
10. Ins. by G.S.R. 170, Date. 15.1.1979, with
effect from: 3.2.1979.
11. Ins. by G.S.R. 1640, Date. 26.9.1963, with
effect from: 12.10.1963.
12. Ins. by G.S.R. 256, Date. 26.3.1983, with
effect from: 26.3.1983.
13. Subs. by G.S.R. 358, Date. 30.4.1987, with
effect from: 9.5.1987.
14. Ins. by G.S.R. 461, Date. 24.4.1981, with
effect from: 9.5.1981.
15. Subs. by G.S.R. 481, Date. 10.6.1987, with
effect from: 20.6.1987.
16. Ins. by G.S.R. 730, Date. 7.9.1989, with effect
from: 30.9.1989.
17. Ins. by G.S.R. 466, Date. 18.7.1991, with
effect from: 17.8.1991.
18. Ins. by G.S.R. 523, Date. 28.3.1966, with
effect from: 9.4.1966.
19. Ins. by G.S.R. 358, Date. 30.4.1987, with
effect from: 9.5.1987.
