Central Transmission Utility and functions
Section 38 of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with central Transmission Utility and functions. The Central Government may notify any Government company as the Central Transmission Utility: Provided that the Central Transmission Utility shall not engage in the business of generation of electricity or trading in electricity: Provided further that the Central Government may transfer, and vest an The Act came into force on 10 Jun 2003.
(1) The Central Government may notify any Government company as the Central Transmission Utility:
Provided that the Central Transmission Utility shall not engage in the business of generation of electricity or trading in electricity:
Provided further that the Central Government may transfer, and vest any property, interest in property, rights and liabilities connected with, and personnel involved in transmission of electricity of such Central Transmission Utility, to a company or companies to be incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) to function as a transmission licensee, through a transfer scheme to be effected in the manner specified under Part XIII and such company or companies shall be deemed to be transmission licensees under this Act.
(2) The functions of the Central Transmission Utility shall be--
(a) to undertake transmission of electricity through inter-State transmission system;
(b) to discharge all functions of planning and co-ordination relating to inter-State transmission system with--
(i) State Transmission Utilities;
(ii) Central Government;
(iii) State Governments;
(iv) generating companies;
(v) Regional Power Committees;
(vi) Authority;
(vii) licensees;
(viii) any other person notified by the Central Government in this behalf;
(c) to ensure development of an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of inter-State transmission lines for smooth flow of electricity from generating stations to the load centres;
(d) to provide non-discriminatory open access to its transmission system for use by--
(i) any licensee or generating company on payment of the transmission charges; or
(ii) any consumer as and when such open access is provided by the State Commission under sub-section (2) of section 42, on payment of the transmission charges and a surcharge thereon, as may be specified by the Central Commission:
Provided that such surcharge shall be utilised for the purpose of meeting the requirement of current level cross-subsidy:
Provided further that such surcharge and cross subsidies shall be progressively reduced 1 *** in the manner as may be specified by the Central Commission:
2 * * * * *
Provided also that the manner of payment and utilisation of the surcharge shall be specified by the Central Commission:
Provided also that such surcharge shall not be leviable in case open access is provided to a person who has established a captive generating plant for carrying the electricity to the destination of his own use.
Section 38, The Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Referred to by 2
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 4 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
- Central Electricity Authority (Safety Requirement for Construction, Operation & Maintenance of Electrical Plants & Electric Lines) Regulations, 2011Regulation 2011
- JERC Notification dated 07.08.2010Notification 2010
- The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Grid Code, 2008Regulation 2008
- The Electricity Rules, 2005Rule 2005
Questions about Section 38
What does Section 38 of the Electricity Act deal with?
Section 38 of the Electricity Act is headed "Central Transmission Utility and functions". The Central Government may notify any Government company as the Central Transmission Utility: Provided that the Central Transmission Utility shall not engage in the business of generation of electricity or trading in electricity: Provided further that the Central Government may transfer, and vest an
How do I find court cases under Section 38 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 38, section 38 Electricity Act 2003, section 38 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 38 of the Electricity Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 42 (Duties of distribution licensee and open access), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently THE INDIAN ELECTRICITY RULES, 1956 (1956).
When did Section 38 of the Electricity Act come into force?
Section 38 of the Electricity Act, cited as Electricity Act 2003 38, 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 18 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.