Section 15 of EA 2003, Electricity Act : Section 15: Procedure For Grant Of Licence

Explanation using Example

Imagine a company, PowerGrid Enterprises, wants to distribute electricity in a specific region of a state. To do this legally, they need to apply for a distribution license under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003. Here's how they would proceed according to Section 15:

1. Application Submission: PowerGrid Enterprises submits an application in the prescribed form and manner to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) along with the required fee.
2. Public Notice: Within seven days of application, they publish a notice in the local newspapers detailing their intent, as specified by the SERC, to inform the public and invite objections or suggestions.
3. Consideration of Objections: The SERC will not grant the license until it has considered any objections received within 30 days of the notice's publication.
4. Government Premises: If PowerGrid Enterprises' proposed area includes government or defence premises, they must ensure there is no objection from the Central Government before the license can be granted.
5. Transmission Utility Notification: If PowerGrid Enterprises also intends to act as a transmission licensee, they must send a copy of the application to the relevant Transmission Utility, which will then make recommendations to the SERC within 30 days.
6. Final Steps Before Granting License: The SERC will publish a notice with the applicant's details and consider all feedback before granting the license, which they aim to do within 90 days of the application, unless it fails to meet the legal requirements.
7. Post-Grant Procedure: Once granted, the SERC sends a copy of the license to the appropriate authorities, and the license remains valid for 25 years unless revoked.