WHITE PAPER ON IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED IN THE CEA SAFETY REGULATIONS.
1. Introduction
The Central Electricity Authority is empowered to prescribe safety measures to protect the public from the hazards of electricity. In recent years, the Authority has amended its regulations to align with international best practices and standards, eliminating conflicting provisions. However, some outdated provisions that have remained unchanged for nearly a century continue to persist, warranting review to keep up with the latest standards.
This white paper addresses the important aspects of electrical safety and analyses the impact of the regulatory framework, particularly the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023. Specifically, it analyses the necessity of revising the century-old key terms like the voltage levels of 250V and 650V stipulated in the regulations and the related sub- regulations, highlighting their influence on other electrical safety standards in India.
Data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEI division) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveal that several thousand people and animals are affected by electrical accidents every year. Most of these incidents can be attributed to substandard and non-compliant electrical installations. Despite concerted efforts by government agencies and NGOs to mitigate the number and severity of such accidents, significant improvements remain elusive.
Our Association (NFEES-www.nfees.org) has been conducting hundreds of workshops on various electrical safety topics nationwide to raise awareness about electrical safety. This article stems from discussions with thousands of practicing engineers during our technical programs, highlighting the need for immediate improvements in regulations to prevent errors and misinterpretations.
We found that the major contributor to non-compliant installations is the ambiguity and errors in the regulations, coupled with misinterpretation by stakeholders, including those responsible for implementation, and some of the identified complications are addressed here as follows:
2. Definition for Voltage Classification
There are no definitions for voltage classification in the CEA regulations. The confusion starts from the fact that the powers vested with the CEA under part 1, section 2 (35) of The Electricity Act, 2003 have not been exercised so far. The CEA did not define the commonly used terms such as low voltage (or LT), Medium voltage (MV), high voltage (HV, EHV) etc. which were existing in the repealed Indian Electricity Rules, 1956. As a result, each State Regulatory Commission has its definition, creating confusion.
Classification of safety requirements based on the century-old phrases like “up to 250 V, 250 to 650 V, and above 650 V etc.” originated from the regulations existed in UK before independence. During 1907, the seventh wiring regulations of UK, defined up to 250 V as low pressure, 250V to 650 V as medium pressure, and exceeding 650 V as high pressure. Later, in 1934, the term pressure was changed to Voltage; however, the definition continued until 1970’s in the UK. These definitions were subsequently revised in line with the international practices during 1990’s in the UK. The Indian Electricity Rules, also adopted the following definition. According to The IE Rules, 1956, the following definition was followed:
- “low” where the voltage does not exceed 250 volts under normal conditions,
- “medium” where the voltage does not exceed 650 volts under normal conditions,
- “high” where the voltage does not exceed 33,000 volts under normal conditions,
- “extra high” where the voltage exceeds 33,000 volts under normal
Over the years, almost every organisation in our country, including the Central and State Governments, followed these definitions. Since the voltages for distribution, manufacture of electrical equipment, and the end use by the consumers were standardised at 240 V for single phase LV, 415 V for three phase LV etc., and there are areas, like rooftop solar PV installations, with 800 to 900 VDC is common now a days, the revision of definition for voltage was expected during the repeal of the IE Rules, 1956 by the CEA (MSES) Regulations, 2010. But a strange approach happened where the above definition of The IE Rules 1956 was removed without a suitable alternate definition without exercising the powers conferred with the CEA under part 1, section 2 (35) of The Electricity Act, 2003.
3. Use of phrases like 250 V and 650 V in the safety regulations
Adoption of the phrases like up to 250V, 650 V, above 650 V etc. in the Regulations, which are non- existent ones in the present scenario of standards for distribution, manufacture and end use electrical installations in our country, the corresponding discretions and adoption by stakeholders are creating confusions in deciding the safety parameters required for the design, installation and verification practices.
To explain one of such discrepancies, R47 (vi) can be considered. It states that where two or more generators operate in parallel and neutral switching is adopted, inter-lock shall be provided to ensure that the generator breaker cannot be closed unless one of the neutrals is connected to the earthing system. This provision appears under the heading “voltage exceeding 650 V”. This provision is applicable for the voltage level less than 650 V also (LV Generators are rated for 415 V), the stakeholders are bound to use discretion. The purpose of the Regulation should minimise the discretionary powers.
4. Examples of Improvements to be addressed immediately
There are much more to improve in the CEA regulation in order to start creating an electrically safer nation. However, the following discrepancies in the Regulations require immediate attention:
- Decade old formats in schedule I, II, III are followed for inspection, where most of the modern safety measures are neither considered nor inspected.
- Regulation 77 (2) insists a separate vertical earth electrode for the lightning arrester as against the national and international standards. Such a non-standard separate earth electrode prescription results in to a higher voltage imposed on the lightning arrester during lightning discharge (larger inductive loop) causing failure of the Lightning Arrester itself and the consequent failure of the protected equipment like transformers.
Even after 75 years of independence, the CEA Safety Regulations follow terms, definitions and methods which are applicable during the pre-independence era.
5. Conclusion
In order to avoid any further confusion among every organisation in the country, such as State Government, Regulatory Commissions, Implementers, by making their interpretations resulting in widespread confusion within the electrical engineering community, the CEA Measures relating to safety and electric supply regulations 2023 may be amended immediately based on the established standards and practices to ensure safety to the personnel and property.
About NFE
National Federation of Engineers for Electrical Safety (NFE) is a not-for-profit organisation, a registered society of professionals working on electrical safety and skill development. Our mission is to “To make every electrical installation free of accidents such as electrocution and fire due to short circuits and increasing the reliability of the electrical installation, thus contributing to the saving of life and property and supporting sustainable development”.
The two-year-old society is registered in Chennai, currently have more than 2000 professionals as members and about 75,000 participants and followers of our training programs. We work closely with several industrial and standardising organisations and create awareness.
Published on 16 august 2025
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF ENGINEERS FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY (NFE)
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e mail: admin@nfees.org
S. Gopakumar
President
president@nfees.org
Member
IEC – TC64: MT 3, MT 12, MT 40, MT 41, WG 43
TC81:MT 3, MT 14, MT 21, WG 18 SC 37 A: WG03 & WG05
SyC LVDC WG01
BIS – ETD 20, ETD 30, ETD50 & LITD 09
S. Appavoo
General Secretary
secretary@nfees.org
Former Chief Electrical Inspector Government of Tamil Nadu.
Member
ETD 19 & ETD 20 (BIS)