Licensee not to do certain things
Section 17 of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with licensee not to do certain things. No licensee shall, without prior approval of the Appropriate Commission,-- (a) undertake any transaction to acquire by purchase or takeover or otherwise, the utility of any other licensee; The Act came into force on 10 Jun 2003.
(1) No licensee shall, without prior approval of the Appropriate Commission,--
(a) undertake any transaction to acquire by purchase or takeover or otherwise, the utility of any other licensee; or
(b) merge his utility with the utility of any other licensee:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply if the utility of the licensee is situate in a State other than the State in which the utility referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) is situate.
(2) Every licensee shall, before obtaining the approval under sub-section (1), give not less than one month's notice to every other licensee who transmits or distributes, electricity in the area of such licensee who applies for such approval.
(3) No licensee shall at any time assign his licence or transfer his utility, or any part thereof, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise without the prior approval of the Appropriate Commission.
(4) Any agreement, relating to any transaction specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (3), unless made with the prior approval of the Appropriate Commission, shall be void.
Section 17, The Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003).
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 17
What does Section 17 of the Electricity Act deal with?
Section 17 of the Electricity Act is headed "Licensee not to do certain things". No licensee shall, without prior approval of the Appropriate Commission,-- (a) undertake any transaction to acquire by purchase or takeover or otherwise, the utility of any other licensee;
How do I find court cases under Section 17 of the Electricity Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Electricity Act 2003 17, section 17 Electricity Act 2003, section 17 of the Electricity Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 17 of the Electricity Act, and has it changed?
The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Procedure, Terms & Conditions for grant of Trading License for Intrastate Electricity Trader and other related Provisions) Regulations, 2005 (2025).
When did Section 17 of the Electricity Act come into force?
Section 17 of the Electricity Act, cited as Electricity Act 2003 17, came into force on 10 Jun 2003, having been enacted on 26 May 2003. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.