Indian electricity rule (1956)

Rule 28 :- voltage level definition -

i. Low voltage = less than 250V
ii. Medium voltage = 250V to 650V
iii. High voltage = 650V to 33 kV
iv. Extra high voltage = more than 33 kV
Rule 30 :- service lines & apparatus on consumer premises –
(1) The supplier shall ensure that all electric supply lines, wires, fittings and apparatus
belonging to him or under his control, which are on a consumer’s premises, are in a safe condition
and in all respects fit for supplying energy and the supplier shall take due precautions to avoid
danger arising on such premises from such supply lines, wires, fittings and apparatus.
(2) Service-lines placed by the supplier on the premises of a consumer which are
underground or which are accessible shall be so insulated and protected by the supplier as to be
secured under all ordinary conditions against electrical, mechanical, chemical or other injury to the
insulation.
(3) The consumer shall, as far as circumstances permit, take precautions for the safe
custody of the equipment on his premises belonging to the supplier. (4) The consumer shall also
ensure that the installation under his control is maintained in a safe condition.
Rule 31.Cut-out on consumer’s premises
(1) The supplier shall provide a suitable cut-out in each conductor of every service-line other than
an earthed or earthed neutral conductor or the earthed external conductor of a concentric cable
within a consumer’s premises, in an accessible position. Such cut-out shall be contained within an
adequately enclosed fireproof receptacle. Where more than one consumer is supplied through a
common service-line, each such consumer shall be provided with an independent cut-out at the
point of junction to the common service.
(2) Every electric supply line other than the earth or earthed neutral conductor of any system or
the earthed external conductor of a concentric cable shall be protected by a suitable cut-out by its
owner.
(3) No conductor of an overhead line crossing a tramway or trolley bus route using trolley wires
shall have less than the following clearances above and trolley wire-
(a) Low and medium voltage lines 1.2 metres. Provided that where an insulated
conductor suspended from a bearer wire crosses over a trolley wire the minimum clearance for
such insulated conductor shall be 0.6 metre.
(b) High voltage lines up to and including 11,000 volts 1.8 metres
(c) High voltage lines above 11,000 volts 2.5 metres
(d) Extra-high voltage lines 3.0 metre
46. Periodical inspection and testing of consumer’s installation. –
(1) (a) Where an installation is already connected to the supply system of the supplier, every such
installation shall be periodically inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding five years either by
the Inspector or any officer appointed to assist the Inspector or by the supplier as may be directed
by the State Government in this behalf or in the case of installations belonging to, or under the
control of the Central Government, and in the case of installation in mines, oilfields and railways by
the Central Government.
(b) Where the supplier is directed by the Central or the State Government as the case may be to
inspect and test the installation he shall report on the condition of the installation to the consumer
concerned in a form approved by the Inspector and shall submit a copy of such report to the
Inspector or to any officer appointed to assist the Inspector and authorised under sub-rule (2) of
rule 4A.
(c) Subject to the approval of the Inspector, the forms of inspection report contained in Annexure
IX-A may, with such variations as the circumstances of each case require, be used for the purposes
of this sub-rule.
(2) (a) The fees for such inspection and test shall be determined by the Central or the State
Government, as the case may be, in the case of each class of consumers and shall be payable by
the consumer in advance.
(b) In the even it of the failure of any consumer to pay the fees on or before the date specified in
the fee-notice, supply to the installation of such consumer shall be liable to be disconnected under
the direction of the Inspector. Such disconnection, however, shall not be made by the supplier
without giving to the consumer seven clear days’ notice in writing of his intention so to do.
(c) In the event of the failure of the owner of any installation to rectify the defects in his installation
pointed out by the Inspector or by any officer appointed to assist him and authorised under sub-
rule (2) of rule 4A in the form set out in Annexure IX and within the time indicated therein, such
installation shall be liable to be disconnected after serving the owner of such installation with a
notice.
Provided that the installation shall not be disconnected in case an appeal in made under rule 6 and
the appellate authority has stayed the orders of disconnection.
Provided further that the time indicated in the notice shall not be less than 48 hours in any case.
Provided also that nothing contained in this clause shall have any effect on the application of rule
49.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, the consumer shall at all times be solely
responsible for the maintenance of his installation in such condition as to be free from danger.
Rule 47.Testing of consumer’s installation-
(1) Upon receipt of an application for a new or additional supply of energy and before connecting
the supply or reconnecting the same after a period of six months, the supplier shall inspect and
test the applicants’ installation.
The supplier shall maintain a record of test results obtained at each supply point to a
consumer, in a form to be approved by the Inspector.
(2) If as a result of such inspection and test, the supplier is satisfied that the installation is likely to
constitute danger, he shall serve on the applicant a notice in writing requiring him to make such
modifications as are necessary to render the installation safe. The supplier may refuse to
connect or reconnect the supply until the required modifications have been completed and he
has been notified by the applicant.
Rule 54. Declared voltage of supply to consumer. –
Except with the written consent of the consumer or with the previous sanction of the State
Government a supplier shall not permit the voltage at the point of commencement of supply as
defined under rule 58 to vary from the declared voltage-
(i) In the case of low or medium voltage, by more than 6 per cent, or;
(ii) In the case of high voltage, by more than 6 per cent on the higher side or by more than 9
per cent on the lower side, or;
(iii) In the case of extra-high voltage, by more than 10 per cent on the higher side or by more
than 12.5 per cent on the lower side.

Rule 55. Declared frequency of supply to consumer-

Except with the written consent of the consumer or with the previous sanction of the State
Government a supplier shall not permit the frequency of an alternating current supply to vary from
the declared frequency by more than 3 per cent.

Rule 77 . Clearance above ground of the lowest conductor-

(1) No conductor of an overhead line, including service lines, erected across a street shall at any
part thereof be at a height of less than-
(a) For low and medium voltage lines 5.8 metres
(b) For high voltage lines 6.1 metre
(2) No conductor of an overhead line, including service lines, erected along any street shall at any
part thereof be at a height less than-
(a) For low and medium voltage lines 5.5 metres
(b) For high voltage lines 5.8 metres
(3) No conductor of in overhead line including service lines, erected elsewhere than along or across
any street shall be at a height less than-
(a) For low, medium and high voltages lines upto and including 11,000 volts, if bare 4.6 metres
(b) For low, medium and high voltage lines upto and including 11,000 volts, if insulated 4.0 metres
(c) For high voltage lines above 11,000 volts 5.2 metres
(4) For extra-high voltage lines the clearance above ground shall not be less than 5.2 metres plus
0.3 metre for every 33,000 volts or part thereof by which the voltage of the line exceeds 33,000
volts.
Provided that the minimum clearance along or across any street shall not be less than 6.1 metres.