Electricity Amendment Bill faces Opposition protests, sent to House panel

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, has been sent to the standing committee for consultation with stakeholders amid the Opposition calling it an encroachment into states’ powers and hurting the federal structure.

Provisions of the Bill have been opposed by a number of Opposition-ruled states, including those aimed at allowing customers to have the option to choose electricity suppliers — just like one can choose telephone or internet service providers. The legislation seeks to create competition in the retail segment of the power distribution sector and proposes that a discom (power distribution company) can use other power distribution licensees’ network.