Chapter-I - Indian Electricity Rules

Indian electricity rules, 1956
SRO 1455, Dated 26-6-1956¹

In exercisse of the powers conferred by section 37 of the Indian Electricity Act 1910 (IX of 1910), the Central Electrity Board hereby makes the following rules, the same having been previously published as required by sub-section(1) of section 38 of the said act, namely:

CHAPTER-I
PRELIMINARY

(1) These rules may be called the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

(2) They shall come into force at once.

(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 gramme 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 0f 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; 

²[(ee) "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 mayor 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 material 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 or 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, bum, 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 alive 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) ³[*** ]

(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 switch gear or instruments) with or without any other apparatus for switching, con trolling 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 switch gear or instruments, and includes the apparatus therein;

⁴[(uu) "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 flammation (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 casing, barrier, rails or metal screens to remove the possibility of dangerous contact or approach by persons or objects to a point of danger;

⁵[(vv) "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 s. 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 utilising 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;

⁶[(zz) increased safety type 'e' means a method of protection by which additional measures are applied so as to give increased security against the possibility of excessive temperatures and of occurrence of arcs and sparks in apparatus which does not produce arcs or sparks in normal service;]

(aa) "lightning 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;

⁷ [(aaa) "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;

⁶[(aca) 'meter' means a set of integrating instruments used to measure the amount of electrical energy supply, in a given time, which include whole current meter and metering equipment such as current transformer with necessary wiring and accessories;]

⁸[(ad) "neutral conductor" means that conductor of a multiwire 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;

⁹[(aff) 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 a11 unvarying electric current by a column of mercury at the temperature of melting ice 14.4521 grams in mass of a uniform cross-sectional area and of a length of 106.3 centimeters; 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 temperature of 30°C;

(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 supply-line which is placed above ground and in the open⁹[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);

¹⁰[(ak) "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 ¹¹[including the government];

(aq) "switch" means a manually operated device for opening and closing or for changing the connection of a circuit;

¹²[(aqa) "switchboard" means an assembly including the switch gear for the control of electrical circuits, electric connections and the supporting frame;]

(ar) "switch gear" 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.

(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) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 51, clause (a) of sub-rule (1) ¹¹[and ¹³[clauses (h) and (i) of sub-rule (2) of Rule 64], sub-rule (2) of Rule 110, sub-rules (1) and (4) of Rules 121, sub-rule (4) of Rule 123, Rule 124 and sub-rule (8) of Rule 125.

¹⁴[(2) 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].

¹⁵[(2A)(a) No person shall be authorised to operate or undertake maintenance of any part or whole of 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 person already authorised to operate or undertake maintenance of any part or whole of 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 ¹⁶[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 cl. (a) of this sub-rule for any engineer and such other persons 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.]

¹⁷[(2B) The provisions contained in Rule 3(2A) will also be applicable in respect of other sub-stations of 132KV 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 authorising 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 ¹⁸[ or any officer of a specified rank and class appointed to assist the Inspector] when required.

⁷[(5) An Inspector may cancel or amend, in such manner as he considers necessary, any authorisation made under sub-rule (1).]

¹⁹[(6) 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 there under, who shall periodically inspect such installation, get them tested and keep a record thereof and such records shall be made available to the Inspector, ¹⁸[or any officer of specified rank and class appointed to assist the Inspector], if and when required.]

⁶[(7) All suppliers of electricity including generating companies, transmission companies and distribution companies shall appoint a safety officer for proper observance of safety measures in their organisation in construction operation and maintenance of power station, sub-stations, transmission and distribution lines]

1 Published in Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3, dt. 26-6-1956.
2 Inserted vide GSR 1723, dt. 21-11-1977, w.e.f.1-12-1977.
3 Definition of electrician deleted vide GSR 523, dt. 28-3-1966, w.e.f. 9-4-1966.
4 Inserted vide GsR 45, dt.1-1-1993, w.e.f 23-1-1993.
5 Inserted vide GsR 225, dt.1Q-2-1961, w.e.f. 25-2-1961
6 Inserted vide GSR 274, dt. 10-7-2002, w.e.f. 20-7-2002.
7 Inserted vide GSR 523, dt. 28-3-1966, w.e.f. 9-4-1966.
8 Substituted vide GSR 522, dt.17-3-1970, w.e.f. 4-4-1970.
9 Inserted vide GSR 336, dt. 28-3-1988, w.e.f. 23-4-1988.
10 Substituted vide GSR 225, dt. 10-2-1961.
11 Inserted vide GSR 1640, dt. 26-9-1963, w.e.f.12-10-1963.
12 Inserted vide GSR 170, dt.15-1-1979, w.e.f. 3-2-1979.
13 Substituted for clauses (e) and (f) of sub-rule (2) or rule 64vide GSR 112, dt. 22-3-2000. w.e.f. 1-4-2000.
14 Substituted by GSR 358, dt. 30-4-1987, w.e.f. 9-5-1987.
15 Inserted vide GSR 461, dt. 24-4-1981, w.e.f. 9-5-1981.
16 Substituted vide GSR 481, dt.10-6-1987, w.e.f. 20-6-1987.
17 Inserted vide GSR 730, dt. 7-9-1989, w.e.f. 30-9-1989.
18 Inserted vide GSR466, dt.18-7-1991, w.e.f.17-8-1991.
19 Inserted vide GSR 358, dt. 30-4-1987, w.e.f. 9-5-1987.