Withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, TN CM urges PM

The amendments will allow private distribution companies to selectively access high-value customers, also and give them access to distribution networks without any investments or any responsibility to maintain them, CM Stalin pointed out

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday seeking his urgent intervention to defer the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003 as they have “far-reaching detrimental implications for the State DISCOMs”.

Mr. Stalin said the amendments to the Bill proposes to de-license the distribution sector of electricity by introducing a concept of ‘Distribution Company’ and the deemed registration of any such distribution company after 60 days of application. “This step will give unbridled access to private players to supply power to select consumers and enable them to use the already laid out distribution network of the Public Sector Power Companies. While the State PSUs carry the burden of investment in such networks, these private companies are being allowed to use the same without any investment or any responsibility to maintain it,” Mr. Stalin said.