Safety with IE Rules

The Electricity Act, 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to transform the power sector in India.


The act covers major issues involving generation, distribution, transmission and trading in power. While some of the sections have already been enacted and are yielding benefits, there are a few other sections that are yet to be fully enforced till date

Before Electricity Act, 2003, the Indian Electricity sector was guided by The Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and The Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998. The generation, distribution and transmission were carried out mainly by the State Electricity Boards in various States. Due to politico-economic situation, the cross-subsidies reached at an unsustainable level. For the purpose of distancing state governments from tariff determination, The Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act was enacted in 1998. So as to reform electricity sector further by participation of private sector and to bring in competition, Electricity Act was enacted in 2003

CEAR namely Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 are regulations framed by Central Electricity Authority of India under Indian Electricity Act, 2003, to regulate measures relating to safety and electric supply in India

Earthing provisions and safety

Under CEAR, rule 41, there is specific provision of earthing neutral wire of a 3-phase, 4-wire system and the additional third wire of a 2- phase, 3-wire system. Earthing is to be done with two separate connections. Grounding system also to have minimum two or more earth pits (electrode) such that proper grounding takes place. As per the rule 42, installation with load above 5 KW exceeding 250Volt shall have suitable Earth leakage protective device to isolate the load in case of earth fault or leakage.^[3]

Neutral and earth run separately on overhead line/cables. Separate conductor for overhead lines and armoring of cables are used for earth connection. Additional earth electrodes/pits are installed at user ends for proper earth.

THE INDIAN ELECTRICITY RULES, 1956

 

CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY   1. Short title and commencement    2. Definitions    3. Authorisation     CHAPTER II INSPECTORS   4. Qualification of Inspectors    4A. Appointment of officers to assist the Inspectors    4B. Qualification of officers appointed to assist the Inspectors    5. Entry and inspection    6. Appeals    7. Amount of fees    8. Incidence of fees recoverable in the cases of dispute    9. Submission of records    10. List of consumers     CHAPTER III LICENCE   11. Application for licence    12. Copies of maps and draft licence for public inspection    13. Contents of draft licence    14. Form of draft licence   

15. Advertisement of application and contents thereof    16. Amendment of draft licence    17. Local enquiries    18. Approval of draft licence    19. Notification of grant of licence    20. Date of commencement of licence    21. Deposit of maps    22. Deposit of printed copies    23. Application for written consent of State Government in certain cases    24. Amendment of licence    25. Sale of Plans    26. Preparations and submission of accounts    27. Model conditions of supply    28. Forms of requisitions     CHAPTER IV GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS   29. Construction, installation, protection, operation and maintenance of electric supply lines and apparatus                  30.   Service lines and apparatus on consumer’s premises       31. Cut-out on consumer’s premises      32. Identification of earthed and earthed neutral conductors and position of switches and cut-outs therein       33. Earthed terminal on consumer’s premises     34. Accessibility of bare conductors    35. Danger Notices 

  36. Handling of electric supply lines and apparatus    37. Supply to vehicles, cranes, etc.    38.  Cables for portable or transportable apparatus                                  39. Cables protected by bituminous materials   40. Street boxes    41. Distinction of different circuits    41A. Distinction of the installations having more than one feed    42. Accidental charge    43. Provisions applicable to protective equipment    44. Instructions for restoration of persons suffering from electric shock    44A. Intimation of Accident    45. Precautions to be adopted by consumers, owner’s occupiers, electrical contractors, electrical workmen and suppliers    46. Periodical inspection and testing of consumer’s installation     CHAPTER V   GENERAL CONDITIONS RELATING  TO SUPPLY AND USE OF ENERGY   47. Testing of consumer’s installation    47A. Installation and Testing of Generating Units    48. Precautions against leakage before connection    49. Leakage on consumer’s premises    50. Supply and use of energy    50A. Additional provisions for supply and use of energy in multi-storeyed building (more than 15 metres in height)   

51. Provisions applicable to medium, high or extra-high voltage installations    52. Appeal to Inspector in regard to defects    53. Cost of inspection and test of consumer’s installation    54. Declared voltage of supply to consumer    55. Declared frequency of supply to consumer    56. Sealing of meters, and cut-outs    57. Meters, maximum demand indicators and other apparatus on consumer’s premises    58. Point of commencement of supply    59. Precautions against failure of supply: Notice of failures     CHAPTER VI   ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES, SYSTEMS  AND APPARATUS FOR LOW AND MEDIUM VOLTAGES   60.  Test for resistance of insulation                                               61.  Connection with earth    61A.  Earth leakage protective device    62.  Systems at medium voltage    CHAPTER VII   ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES, SYSTEMS  AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH AND EXTRA-HIGH VOLTAGES   63. Approval by Inspector    64. Use of energy at high and extra-high voltage    64A. Additional provisions for use of energy at high and extra-high voltage   

65. Testing, Operation and Maintenance    66. Metal sheathed electric supply lines.  Precautions against excess leakage    67. Connection with earth    68. General conditions as to transformation and control of energy    69. Pole type sub-stations    70. Condensers    71. Additional provisions for supply to high voltage luminous tube sign installation    72. Additional provisions for supply to high voltage electrode boilers    73. Supply to X-ray and high frequency installation     CHAPTER VIII OVERHEAD LINES, UNDER GROUND CABLES AND GENERATING STATIONS   74. Material and strength    75. Joints    76. Maximum stresses: Factors of safety    77. Clearance above ground of the lowest conductor    78. Clearance between conductors and trolley wires    79. Clearances from buildings of low and medium voltage lines and service lines    80. Clearances from buildings of high and extra-high voltage lines    81. Conductors at different voltages on same supports    82. Erection of or alternation to buildings, structures, flood banks and elevation of roads    82A. Transporting and Storing of material near overhead lines    83. Clearances: General 

  84. Routes: Proximity to aerodromes    85. Maximum interval between supports    86. Conditions to apply where telecommunication lines and  power lines are carried on same supports    87. Lines crossing or approaching each other    88. Guarding    89. Service-lines from Overhead lines    90. Earthing    91. Safety and protective devices    92. Protection against lightning    93. Unused overhead lines     CHAPTER IX ELECTRIC TRACTION   94. Additional rules for electric traction    95. Voltage of supply to vehicle    96. Insulation of lines    97. Insulation of returns    98. Proximity to metallic pipes, etc.    99. Difference of potential on return    100. Leakage on conduit system    101. Leakage on system other than conduit system    102. Passengers not to have access to electric circuit    103. Current density in rails    104. Isolation of sections 

  105. Minimum size and strength of trolley-wire    106. Height of trolley-wire and length of span    107. Earthing of guard wires    107A. Proximity to magnetic observatories and laboratories    108. Records     CHAPTER X ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS TO BE  ADOPTED IN MINES AND OIL-FIELDS   109. Application of Chapter    110. Responsibility for observance    111. Notices    112. Plans    113. Lighting, communications and fire precautions    114. Isolation and fixing of transformer, switchgear, etc.    115. Method of earthing    116. Protective equipment    117. Earthing metal, etc.    118. Voltage limits    119. Transformers    120. Switchgear and terminals    121. Disconnection of supply    122. Cables    123. Flexible cables    124. Portable and transportable machines 

  125. Sundry precautions    126. Precautions where gas exists    127. Shot-firing    128. Signalling    129. Haulage    130. Earthing of neutral points    131. Supervision    132. Exemptions     CHAPTER XI MISCELLANEOUS   133. Relaxation by Government    134. Relaxation by Inspector    135. Supply and use of energy by non-licensees and others    136. Responsibility of Agents and Managers    137. Mode of entry    138. Penalty for breaking seal    138A. Penality for breach of rule 44A    139. Penalty for breach of rule 45    140. Penalty for breach of rule 82    140A. Penalty for breach of rule 77, 79 or 80    141. Penalty for breach of rules    142. Application of rules    143. Repeal