Electricity Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide
Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 2003
Section 80 of Electricity Act: Electricity Supply & Regulatory Procedure
Official Bare Act Text
Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary
(1)The Central Commission may, by notification, establish a Committee to be known as the Central Advisory Committee.
(2)The Central Advisory Committee shall consist of not more than thirty-one members to represent the interests of commerce, industry, transport, agriculture, labour, consumers, non-governmental organisations and academic and research bodies in the electricity sector.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 80
Section 80 of the Act mandates the constitution of the Central Advisory Committee by the Central Commission, establishing a broad-based consultative body to advise the Commission on major policy questions.
Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Architecture: Requires the Commission to constitute an Advisory Committee comprising not more than thirty-one members representing commerce, industry, transport, agriculture, labor, and consumer interests.
Statutory Voice for Consumer & Industry Groups: Guarantees formal representation to small-scale industries and consumer advocacy organizations in national electricity policy formulation.
Regular Periodic Consultative Meetings: Mandates periodic meetings to review regulatory impact, tariff reforms, and market liquidity.
Key Landmark Precedents:
PTC India Ltd. v. CERC (2010) 4 SCC 603: Supreme Court noted that the Central Advisory Committee ensures that delegated regulations are grounded in broad socio-economic consensus.
West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission v. CESC Ltd. (2002) 8 SCC 715: Affirmed the importance of multi-stakeholder consultation in power sector governance.
Energy Watchdog v. CERC (2017) 14 SCC 80: Affirmed the participatory character of electricity regulatory frameworks.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:
Consumer federations should seek institutional representation on the Central Advisory Committee under Section 80, submitting empirical reports on grid reliability and peak tariff pricing during consultative sessions.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 80
Section 80 of the Act mandates the constitution of the Central Advisory Committee by the Central Commission, establishing a broad-based consultative body to advise the Commission on major policy questions.
Consumer federations should seek institutional representation on the Central Advisory Committee under Section 80, submitting empirical reports on grid reliability and peak tariff pricing during consultative sessions.