ELECTRICITY
RULE
INDIAN ELECTRICITY ACT 1910
AN OVERVIEW
1. An Act on electricity in India was first
promulgated as back as 1887, which later
came to be called as Electricity Act { XIII }
of 1887.
2. Then came Calcutta Lighting Act, later
came to be known as Bengal Act 1895
3. Act 1887 was subsequently revised and
came to be known as the Act 1903.
4. Then came the Indian electricity Act 1910.
SCOPE OF ACT
MAIN OBJECTIVES
1. X-ray room shall be located as far as possible away from areas of high
occupancy and from maternity / pediatric wards in the hospital.
7. X-ray equipment shall be installed in such a way that in normal use the
useful beam is not directed towards control panels, doors, windows,
dark room or areas oh high occupancy.
8. In the case of diagnostic X-ray equipment operating at 125KV or
above, the control panel must be installed in a separate room,
provided with appropriate shielding, direct viewing and oral communication
facilities between the operator and the patient.
10. High voltage parts of the X-ray apparatus shall be rendered shock proof
by an adequate insulating material or shielding by earthed metal.
11. Extra high voltage generator operating at 300 peak KV or more shall be
installed in rooms separate from those containing the other equipment.
The step up transformer shall be installed and protected to prevent
danger.
12. A suitable switch shall be provided to control the circuit supplying the
generator.
14. ELCB of sufficient rating shall be provided on the low voltage side to
detect leakage.
15. In the case of non-shock-proof equipment overhead high voltage
conductors, unless guarded against personal contact, shall be
adequately spaced and high voltage leads on tilting tables and
fluoroscopes shall be adequately insulated or so surrounded by
barriers as to prevent inadvertent contact.
16. The low voltage circuit of the step up transformer shall contain a
manually operated control device having overload protection, in
addition to the over current device for circuit protection, and these
devices shall have no exposed live parts.
19. All non current carrying metal parts of tube stands, fluoroscopes and
other apparatus shall be properly earthed.
2. All live parts of the installation including all apparatus and live
conductors in the secondary circuit, but excluding the tubes except in
the neighbourhood of their terminals shall be inaccessible to
unauthorised persons.
10. Main wiring should be done using rigid metal PVC conduits.
3. The cables shall be taken in the electrical duct and no other service pipes
shall run through these ducts. Fire barriers shall be provided at each
floor crossing the duct.
4. The inspection panel door and any other opening in the electrical duct
shall be provided with fire proof door.
7. Separate circuits for water pumps, lifts, staircases and corridor lighting
and blowers for pressurising system shall be provided from the main
switchgear panel and these circuits shall be laid in separate conduits.
9. Two numbers adequate size earthing bus shall be drawn along the entire
electrical duct.
12. Fire hydrant system with fire hydrant pumps, booster pumps of
adequate rating, wet riser, hose reel, single / double head hydrant valves,
smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual call point and talk back
arrangements shall be provided at multi-storied buildings with height
of 24metres and above.
13. Lightning protection at multi-storied buildings shall be in accordance
with I.S.2309/1989
Structure having base area not exceeding 100 sqmts.
Should have only one down conductor
16. Only dry type transformers shall be installed inside the multi-storied
buildings.
17. Low set E/F protection using neutral CT is not to be insisted for
transformers feeding M.S.Building where LT metering is adopted, but
ELCBs shall be provided for all DBs and motor loads except for fire
18. Metering panels shall be installed at ground floor.
7. The operating rod of the GOS should be provided with flexible earth
connection.
8. A minimum clearance of not less than 2m shall be maintained
between the supporting frame of HG fuse and the live part of the GOS.
11. Lightning Arrester should be connected after the GOS before the HG
fuse for protection of down stream equipments like breaker,
transformer etc.,
12. The earthing lead of lightning arrester shall be of No.6 SWG copper
or its equivalent GI wire taken on either ends and shall be taken as
directly as possible and should not be routed through conduit or pipe.
13. A separate earth electrode shall be provided for the lightning arrester.
Metal frame work supporting GOS, HG fuse, and stay clamps,
insulator pins shall be effectively earthed by No.8 SWG copper or
equivalent GI wire.
14. Fencing of height not less than 1.8m shall be erected around the
substation with spacing between DP structure pole and fence being
1.5m.
15. The DP structure yard within the fence shall be uniformly levelled and
spread with sharp edged 38mm blue granite jelly to a depth of
150mm.
16. Lock shall be provided for the GOS operating handle and an arrow
mark indicating the open/close direction shall be provided.
17. The leg of the DP structure shall be driven to a depth of atleast 1/6th
of the pole height with all-round foundation concreting. The
concreting shall be extended to a minimum height of 450mm above
ground level with coping.
18. Danger board in Hindi, English and local language along with symbol
of skull and bone shall be fixed, one on the structure and another on
the gate of fence. The class of voltage shall also be mentioned.
19. The vertical clearance of the EHT line above the highest part of the
building on the basis of maximum sag shall be as per Rule 80(1) of
I.E.Rules 1956.
20. The horizontal clearance of the nearest EHT conductor from the
building on the basis of maximum deflection due to wind pressure
shall be as per Rule 80(2) of I.E.Rules 1956.
b. Indoor transformer
Bushing type transformer should not be installed indoors.
Oil filled transformers installed indoor shall not be on any floor above
the ground or below the first basement.
A minimum clearance of 1500mm shall be provided all-round the
transformer.
The height of the plinth shall be 450mm.
If transformers are installed in cluster and having more than 2000
litres fire rating separating walls shall be provided. In addition the
following measure shall be taken
1. The baffle walls of 4 hours fire rating shall be provided between the
apparatus
2. Provision shall be made for suitable oil soak pit and where
use of more than 9000 litres of oil is involved provision
shall be made for draining oil during fire hazard.
3. Separating walls wiil not be required if the distance
between the transformers is maintained as given below
Oil capacity of individual transformers separating distance
Above 2000lts upto 5000lts 6m
Above 5000lts upto 10000lts 8m
Above 10000lts upto 20000lts 10m
Above 20000lts upto 30000lts 12.5m
Above 30000lts 15m
If the oil content of the transformer is more than 2000litres it shall not
be located in the basement floor.
The transformers shall be protected by an automatic high velocity
water spray system or by carbon dioxide or BCF ( Bromochloro-
difluromethane) or BTM ( Bromotrifluromethane ) fixed installation
system or Nitrogen injection and drain method.
Only dry type transformers shall installed inside the residential /
commercial buildings.
The room shall be adequately ventilated and the walls shall be of fire
rated type.
Minimum clearance of 1.5m shall be maintained between the top most
part of the transformer and the bottom most level of ceiling.
Fire rated doors and windows shall be provided for the transformer room.
The floor of the transformer room shall be sloped to one corner to
facilitate easy removal of leaked / spilled oil.
c. primary protection
A linked switch with fuse or circuit breaker at installations having
aggregate installed transformer / apparatus capacity upto 1000KVA
for 11KV and 2500KVA for 33KV shall be provided.
For installation of aggregate capacity 1000KVA and above for 11KV
and 2500KVA and above for 33KV a circuit breaker of adequate
capacity shall be provided.
A linked switch with fuse or circuit breaker of adequate shall be
provided for every transformer.
For every transformers having capacity 1000KVA and above and
installed on or after the commencement of the Indian Electricity (1st
amendment ) Rules 2000 a circuit breaker shall be provided.
d. secondary protection
Adequate rating circuit breaker shall be provided for all transformers
installed on or after the commencement of the Indian Electricity (1st
amendment ) Rules 2000 .
For Suppliers transformers up to 630KVA a linked switch with fuse or
circuit breaker of adequate capacity shall be provided.
e. protection
Over current protection
Earth fault protection
Gas pressure type and winding and oil temperature protection
Differential protection for transformers with 1000KVA and above
Over flux protection
The minimum rupturing capacity of 33KV, 11KV and MV breakers
shall be 750MVA, 250MVA and 25MVA respectively.
f. earthing
The metallic parts of the transformer shall be earthed by two separate
and distinct connections to the earthing system
The neutral point of every transformer shall be earthed by connecting
it to the earthing system by not less than two separate and distinct
connections
A copper strip looping between the top cover of the transformer and
the tank of the transformer shall be provided to avoid fault current
passing through the fastening belts
The metallic sheath of the cable should be earthed at cable ends /
cable gland.
22. The silica jel in the breather shall be blue in colour.
22. Minimum insulation resistance IR of the windings of power transformer
with 33KV and with 11KV at 30 deg C with 5000V Megger shall be
400Mohms and 300Mohms respectively.
24. HT Switch Board:
The HT switchgear room shall be separated and the room shall be
provided with fire rated brick walls.
Danger notice shall be provided on the HT switchgear
Metallic casing of the HT switchgear should be earthed by two
separate and distinct earth connections of proper size
A minimum clearance of 750mm shall be provided on the sides and
back of the HT switchgear
A clear space of 1m should be provided in front of the switch board. In
case the circuit breakers are of draw out type the clearance should not
be less than 1800mm
High voltage cable trenches should be provided with non-inflammable
slabs and should be filled with dry sand
Fire estinguishers suitable for electric firesand round bottom fire
buckets with clear dry sand conspicuously marked should be kept in
easily accessible position near the switchgear enclosure
A rubber mat shall be spread in front of the HT switch board
25. LT Switch Board:
The HT and LT switchgear rooms shall be kept clean and tidy and
should not be used as a storage room
A minimum clearance of 1800mm should be provided between HT
and LT switchgears
Danger notice shall be provided on the LT switchgear
Metallic casing of the LT switchgear should be earthed by two
separate and distinct earth connections of proper size
A clear space of 1m should be provided in front of the switch board.
A minimum clearance of 750mm shall be provided on the sides and
back of the LT switchgear in all cases of cable entries or bare
connections at the rear. Clearance less than 200mm may be permitted
if there are no cable entries or bare connections at the rear.
A passage way clear to a height of 1800mm should be provided on
either end of the switch board when the clearance at the back
exceeds 750mm.
Each outgoing distinct circuits from the switch board should be
separately controlled by a suitable linked switch fuse or circuit breaker
of adequate capacity.
Each of the different circuits shall be distinctly identified.
The control cables and the power cables at the LT switch board shall
be segregated.
4 pole change over switches of adequate capacity or fuses / circuit
breakers with mechanical arrangement should be provided in the LT
switch board to avoid paralleling of transformer supply and generator
supply.
GENERATOR INSTALLATION
1. Generator room shall be made up of non-inflammable materials.
2. Minimum clearance of 1m shall be provided all-round the generator.
3. When two generator sets are installed side by side minimum of 1.8m
clearance shall be provided between them.
4. The frame of the generator should be earthed by two separate and distinct
earth connections.
5. The neutral of the generator shall be earthed by two separate and distinct
earth connections.
6. The neutral shall be provided with an adequate rating isolator.
7. Exhaust pipe of DG sets shall be provided with thermal insulation to a
height of 2600mm above ground level.
8. Fuel tank of DG sets shall be placed outside the generator room.
9. The generator panel should be erected with a clearance of 750mm on
3 sides and a clear space of 1000mm in front of the panel.
10. Metallic casing of the control panel should be earthed by two separate
and distinct connections with earth.
11. Generator panels shall be made vermin proof.
12. Voltmeter and frequency meter shall be provided in the GCP before
the circuit breaker.
13. Energymeter, 3ph ammeter, KW meter and P.F.meter shall also be
provided in the GCP.
14. Switch ratings, cable size, earthing conductor sizes etc shall be
designed considering fault current.
15. Accoustic arrangements shall be provided for generator sets installed
in residential / commercial area to limit sound level below 70db at
outside.
16. Generator protection:
Upto 100KVA : MCB/MCCB
100KVA upto 250KVA : MCCB and low set standby E/F relay using
neutral CT
250KVA upto 1MVA : ACB with thermal O/L and E/F releases,
low set standby E/F relay, REF protection
with fuel shut off arrangement with D.C.
trip.
1MVA and above : ACB with thermal O/L, voltage controlled
O/C relay, over voltage, under voltage,
over speed, negative sequence, low set
standby E/F relays and REF/differential
relay with fuel shut off facilities.
17. HV generators:
The neutral of the generator shall be earthed through NGR or
earthing transformer. If NGR is used it shall be rated for 30 secs.
If resistance/ transformer earthing is adopted for neutral, generator
supply cable and neutral cable shall be rated for voltage same as that
for unearthed system.
VCB with DC trip shall be provided for generator control.
Following protections shall be provided for HV generators:
Voltage restraint O/C relay.
E/F relay
Standby E/F relay using neutral CT
Over voltage relay
Under voltage relay
REF / Differential relay
Negative sequence relay
Rotor E/F relay
Field failure relay
Winding temperature high, alarm and trip
-dv/dt and df/dt relays ( when connected to grid )
Reverse Power and Reverse reactive Power relays (when
connected to grid )
Following protections shall be provided for Diesel Engine:
High vibration alarm and trip ( Max: 7mm/sec )
High bearing temperature alarm and trip ( Max: 95 deg C )
Over speed and Under speed alarm and trip
Exhaust gas temperature high alarm and trip
Charge Air temperature high alarm and trip
Jacket water temperature high alarm and trip
Lubricating oil temperature high alarm and trip
Lubricating oil pressure low alarm and trip
18. Generators running in parallel:
Neutral switching facility shall be provided. When running in parallel
neutral of largest capacity generator shall only be earthed, while
neutrals of other generators shall bein floating condition.
Synchronising breakers and neutral switches shall be electrically
operated having remote switching facility.
Double frequency meter and double voltmeter shall be provided in
synchronising panel. Synchrocheck relay shall be provided in the
panel.
Switch ratings, cable sizes, earthing conductor sizes shall be designed
considering fault current contribution by all generators running in
parallel.
Buses shall be designed for maximum current at parallel running.
19. Protection of generators in Power stations ( Hydel Thermal and Nuclear
)
Faults within the generator
Generator differential ( 87 G)
Interturn fault ( 87GI )
Stator earth fault ( 64G )
Rotor earth fault ( 64 F )
Loss of excitation ( 40 G)
Faults when interfaced with the grid
Over voltage ( 59 G )
Stator over current / overload ( 50 G )
Rotor over current / over voltage
Over fluxing ( 99 G )
Negative phase sequence ( 46 G )
Pole slipping ( 78 G )
Distance / back up impedance protection ( 21 G )
Under frequency (81 G )
Reverse Power / Low forward Power ( 32 G )
Dead machine protection ( 61 G )
Protection against transformer faults in unit type configuration:
Overall generator-transformer (GT) and Unit aux transformers ( UAT )
differential protection
Generator transformer
Differential protection ( 87T)
REF protection ( 64 GT)
Back up over current on HV side (51 GT)
HV neutral over current ( 51 NGT)
Unit auxiliary transformers
Back up instantaneous and time delayed
over current protection ( 50/51 UAT )
Differential protection ( 87 UAT )
LV side over current and earth fault
20. DG sets with AMF panels
AMF panel shall be physically segregated from the generator control
panel.
Incoming isolation shall be provided in the AMF panel both for the Grid
and generator supply.
Only 4 pole contactors shall be used in 3 phase AMF panels.
Time delay of minimum 3 seconds may be provided for change over of
supply in both directions.
Control wiring diagram shall be affixed inside the AMF panel.
Standard colour codes and numbered ferrules shall be used for wiring
the AMF panel.
SALIENT FEATURES
1. Delicensing of generation.
2. Setting up of transmission utility at the centre.
3. Provision for private transmission licensees.
4. Open access in transmission.
5. Distribution licensees would be free.
6. SERC may permit open access in distribution.
7. For rural and remote areas stand alone systems for generation
and distribution would be permitted.
8. For rural areas decentralised management of distribution
through Panchayats, User Associations, Cooperatives or
Franchisees would be permitted.
9. Trading as a distinct activity is being recognised.
SALIENT PROVISIONS OF ELECTRICITY ACT
2003
Section 14 : Grant of licence.
Section 38 : Central Transmission Utility and functions.
Section 39 : State Transmission Utility and functions.
Section 50 : The Electricity Supply Code.
Section 54 : control of transmission and use of electricity.
Section 55 : Use of meters.
Section 56 : Disconnection of supply in default of payment.
Section 126 : Assessment.
Section 135 : Theft of electricity.
Section 158 : Arbitration.
Section 161 : Notice of accidents and inquires.
Section 162 : Appointment of Chief Electrical Inspector and
Electrical Inspector.