ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024
Synopsis: The Electricity (Amendment) Bill will be a game-changer if we implement its provisions successfully.
Introduction
India’s energy sector is struggling to meet the development needs of people. Also, DISCOMS are fighting with various problems ranging from poor infrastructure, ineffective operations to State level tariff policies. Under this backdrop, the Government of India released Electricity (Amendment) 2020 to bring reforms in this sector.
What are the provisions of Electricity (Amendment) 2020?
More options: The bill aims to provide more options to consumers to choose their service provider or switch their power supplier
| Read more: Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2020 |
What should the government do further?
There is a need to encourage the use of rooftop solar plants. Also, proposing penalties for non-compliance with renewable purchase obligations can help push renewable energy consumption and increase its demand.
Electrical energy should be covered under GST as this will enable companies to avail input credit.
Other solutions can be the installation of smart meters and smart grid which will reduce the AT&C losses.
Source: This post is based on the article “Powering the energy sector” published in The Hindu on 18h October 2021.
