CEA (Central Electricity Authority) Regulations 2023 Covered in Polytechnic Electrical Syllabus

Introduction:

This post presents a brief and easy-to-understand overview of some important regulations notified by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in 2023, which are included in the Polytechnic Electrical Engineering syllabus. Among them, special emphasis is placed on the “Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023”, a key regulation that ensures safety in electrical systems, equipment, and supply processes. Each regulation discussed here is explained in simple terms to help diploma students clearly understand the core concepts and apply them effectively in their academic and practical work. (This is not the exact regulation, only a simplified version for better understanding.)

1. After starting electricity supply, the company (called the licensee) must prepare a map (in paper or digital form) of the area where they are supplying electricity.

• This map must show where the electric lines, street boxes, and other equipment are placed.
• If any lines are under the ground, the map should also show how deep they are.
• Every year, the company must update this map to show the current positions of everything.
• They must also make side views (sections) to show how deep the underground lines are. (except for service lines to homes).

3. The updated map or section (with the date written on it) must be kept in the company’s main office in the supply area.

• Anyone can go and see it during office hours.
• People can also ask for a copy of the map.

4. The company must make sure that old and new maps work properly with GPS or any other modern mapping technology.
5. If an Electrical Inspector or the local authority (if the company is not one) asks, the company must give them a free copy of the map or part of it.
6. If a normal person (applicant) asks for a copy, the company must give it, but they can charge a small fee, as decided by the Electricity Commission.

1. All electrical lines and equipment must be strong enough and safe to handle the power they carry, the insulation they need, and the possible short circuits (faults) that may happen.

• They must also be tough enough for the weather and working conditions where they are installed.
• They should be designed, installed, protected, used, and maintained in a way that keeps people, animals, and property safe.

2. In general, the work must follow the National Electrical Code and National Building Code.

• If no Indian standards are available, international standards can be used.
• But if there is any conflict, the rules in these regulations must be followed first.

3. The materials and equipment used must match the proper standards (quality and safety levels).

4. All electrical equipment must be placed above the highest flood level.

• If it is not possible to install above flood level, then it must be protected properly so that water does not enter or collect near it.

1. The electricity supplier must make sure that all wires, fittings, and equipment they own or control — up to the point where electricity starts being supplied inside a property — are in safe condition and suitable for supplying electricity.

• The supplier must also take steps to prevent any danger caused by those wires or equipment on that property.

2. If the supplier has placed service lines on a consumer’s premises — whether underground or in places where people can touch them — they must be well insulated and protected, so that under normal conditions, they are safe from damage due to electric shock, pressure, chemicals, or anything else that could harm the insulation.
3. The consumer (user) should also take care of the supplier’s equipment on their premises as much as possible.
4. The consumer must also keep the supplier’s installation safe, if it is under their contro

1. The electricity supplier must install a proper switchgear (a device to safely turn power on/off) in each wire of the service line inside a consumer’s premises.

• This does not apply to earthed wires (such as neutral or grounding wires).
• The switchgear must be placed in a location that is easy to access, and it must be kept inside a proper fireproof box for safety.

Note: If the same service line is shared by more than one consumer, then each consumer must be given their own separate switchgear where their connection joins the main line.

2. Any electricity line (except the neutral/earth wire) must have a suitable switchgear for protection, and this must be installed by the person who owns the wire.

When a wire includes an earthed or neutral earthed conductor (used for safety), the following rules must be followed:

(i) The owner of the wire must clearly mark the earthed or neutral earthed wire so that it can be easily recognized and not confused with live (power-carrying) wires. This marking must follow proper safety standards and should be done at these points:

• (a) If the wire belongs to the electricity supplier, then the marking must be placed where the electricity starts entering the premises.
• (b) If a connection is being made to the neutral or earthed wire, the marking must be at that connection point.
• (c) In other cases, the marking must be placed at the point where power supply begins inside the premises.

(ii) No switch, fuse, or breaker should be installed or kept in place on the earthed or neutral earthed wire, unless it is a linked switch that turns off both the live and neutral wires
together.

Exception: This rule does not apply if the switch or link is being used for testing, or for controlling a generator or transformer.

18. Earthed terminal on con premises.

(1) The electricity supplier must provide and maintain a proper earthing terminal on the consumer’s premises.

• It should be placed in an easily reachable location, near the point where the electricity supply starts.
• This should follow the required safety standards. Important Note: If the electricity connection is above 250 volts, then the consumer must also set up their own earthing system using a separate earthing rod (electrode).
• This private earthing system must be connected (linked) to the supplier’s earthed terminal using a proper connector.

 (2) The consumer must take care to protect the earthing terminal and the wire connected to it (which belongs to the supplier) from any kind of physical or mechanical damage.

(1) Clear instructions on how to help a person who gets an electric shock must be displayed by the owner of the place.

• These instructions should be written in English, Hindi, and the local language of the district.
• If Hindi is already the local language, then it should be in English and Hindi only.
• The instructions must be put up in a visible place at:
  
  • All power generation stations
  • Closed substations
  • Switching stations
  • Mines
  • Factories (as per the Factories Act, 1948) where electricity is used
  • Any other place where electricity is used if the Electrical Inspector gives a written order.

(2) The owner of such places must make sure that:

• All workers who are assigned to operate or maintain
  electrical equipment or systems
• Are aware of and trained to follow these electric shock
  rescue instructions.

(1 )No one is allowed to do electrical installation work (like adding, changing, fixing, or adjusting wires and devices) unless they are properly licensed and supervised by qualified people. Exception: Small jobs like changing bulbs, fans, fuses, switches, or home appliances under 250 volts can be done without a license, as long as it doesn’t change the system’s function or capacity.

• Only licensed electrical contractors, with proper government-issued certificates and permits, are allowed to do major work.
• If the work is for the Central Government, mines, oil fields, or railways, then the Central or State Government can exempt the rule through an official notice.
• A licensed contractor from any State or Union Territory can do such work in other states without needing another license, for Central Government or railway projects.

(2) If someone does electrical work without following these rules, that system cannot be connected to power or turned on.

38. Provisions for supply and use of electricity in multi-storeyed building more than fifteen metre in height.

(1) The State or Central Government will decide and notify when inspection is needed (based on power usage or voltage) by an Electrical Inspector for tall buildings.

(2) If electricity has been disconnected for 6 months or more, the building owner must give 30 days’ written notice to the Electrical Inspector before starting or restarting supply.

• Supply can only begin after written approval from the inspector.

Safety Measures Required in Tall Buildings and Special Places

(Like airports, hospitals, hotels, temples, stadiums, schools, labs, industrial areas, etc.)

1. A main switch or breaker (that cuts off power from all wires except neutral) must be installed at the start of the power line. o This must be placed not higher than 1.7 meters from the ground and easy to find. o It is used to shut down power in emergencies.

2. Electrical work inside the building must be done and maintained properly to avoid shock and fire risks, and must follow safety standards.

3. No other pipes or cables should be placed inside the power cable ducts. o Every floor must have a fire barrier in these ducts.

4. For buildings above 15 meters, use Fire Retardant, Low Smoke, Low Halogen cables as per standards. o In airports, hospitals, and hotels, use Halogen-Free Flame Retardant cables regardless of height.

5. Use a bus bar trunking system to distribute electricity across different floors.

6. Provide lightning protection for the building, as per safety standards.

7. Check the wiring regularly and ensure it meets the required safety standards. 8. Do not install electricity meters on staircases.

42. Test of insulation resistance.

If an electric supply line (up to 650 volts) has been disconnected for any reason like adding, changing, or repairing, it must not be reconnected until the supplier or owner has tested it to make sure it is safe to use.

These rules must be followed when earthing electrical systems with voltage above 50V and up to 650V:

 43. Connection with earth:

1. In a three-phase, four-wire system, the neutral wire must be earthed properly as per the safety standards. In a two-phase, three-wire system, the middle wire must also be earthed.

2. The neutral wire should be earthed at more than one place along the distribution system or service line.

3. For systems that use concentric cables, the outer layer (Armour or external conductor) must be earthed with two separate wires going to the ground.

4. In DC (direct current) systems, earthing and safety must follow the correct standards.

5. Every building must have protective bonding – which means all metal parts that people may touch should be connected together and to earth to prevent electric shock.

6. In AC (alternating current) systems, all earthing points must be electrically connected with each other. Also, each connection to the earth must be bonded to the metallic covering of the cables if present

7. The frame (body) of all large electrical machines like generators, motors, transformers, and other electrical equipment between 250V and 650V must be earthed using two separate connections.

8. Any metal covering or casing of wires or equipment must also be connected to earth and all parts must be joined in a way that they stay mechanically and electrically secure throughout the system

Exceptions:

Earthing System Requirements

9. The earthing system must:

10. Suppliers must test their earthing system once a year on a dry day to check the resistance level.

44. Residual Current Device

• Every electrical installation must use a Residual Current Device (RCD) to automatically cut off the electricity if a fault is detected.
• The RCD should work within the time and current limits set by the safety standards.

For homes (domestic use):

• The RCD must be able to trip (disconnect power) if the leakage current is more than 30 milliamps.

Exception:

• If the supply line already has protective devices that are well connected to the neutral of the transformer and meet regulation 76, then an RCD is not required.

60. Clearance in air of the lowest conductor of overhead lines.

1. The lowest electric wire of any overhead line (like service lines or power lines) must be at a safe height above the ground, roads, railways, and rivers.

• This minimum height is based on the type of road or place, and is listed in Schedule VIII A.

2. For high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines, the required clearance is given in Schedule VIII B.

3. If electric lines of 33 kV or below pass through protected natural areas (like National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Eco- sensitive Zones, or Wildlife Corridors), -then only underground cables can be used — no overhead lines are allowed there

4. No part of a tower or pole for overhead lines (33 kV or higher or HVDC) can be placed closer than 25 meters from a Petroleum or Natural Gas pipeline.

5. If an overhead line of 33 kV or higher needs to cross a Petroleum or Natural Gas pipeline, -the line should ideally cross at a right angle (90°). -But in all cases, the crossing angle must be at least 75° (never less).

69. Maximum interval between supports

• All electric wires (conductors) must be tied to poles or supports at safe distances.
• This distance depends on how strong the wire is, and the safety rules given in regulation 59.

Special Rule:

For overhead lines with voltage up to 650V, If the line goes over, along, or across any street, the distance between two supports must not be more than 65 meters, unless you get written permission from the Electrical Inspector.

71. Lines crossing or approaching each other and lines crossing street and road.

When an overhead electric line or a telecom line crosses or comes close to another line (either electric or telecom), the following rules must be followed:

1. Whoever Lays the Line Later Must Take Care:

• If someone installs a new line near or across an existing one, they must provide safety protections or follow the safety guidelines set by the Power and Telecommunication Coordination Committee.

2. Notice Before Installation:

• The person planning to install a new line must give one month’s notice with all details and drawings to the owner of the existing line.

3. Guarding is Needed in Some Cases:

• If a line with voltage up to 33 kV crosses a road, street, or telecom line, proper guarding (safety barriers) must be installed.
• If one overhead line crosses or comes close to another overhead line, guarding must be used to prevent contact.

4. Minimum Clearances for Overhead Line Crossings When one overhead line crosses another, the following minimum vertical clearances must be maintained as per the standards:

Minimum clearances in metre between lines crossing each other

Sl. No.	Nominal System Voltage (kV)	11-66 kV	110-132 kV	220 kV	400 kV	765 kV	1200 kV
1.	below 11	2.44	3.05	4.58	5.49	7.94	10.44
2.	11-66	2.44	3.05	4.58	5.49	7.94	10.44
3.	110-132	3.05	3.5	4.58	5.49	7.94	10.44
4.	220	4.58	4.58	4.58	5.49	7.94	10.44
5.	400	5.49	5.49	5.49	5.49	7.94	10.44
6.	765	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	10.44
7.	1200	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44

When Guarding is Not Needed:

If a line over 33 kV crosses over a line of 250 V or more, or a road or tram line, guarding is not required only if:

• There is enough vertical space between the lines.
• The clearance above the road is as per regulation 60.

5. Minimum Clearances for Overhead Direct Current (DC) Line Crossings

When an overhead DC line crosses another overhead line, the minimum vertical clearances specified in the table below must be maintained.

Minimum clearances in metre between AC and DC lines each other

Sl. No.	System Viltage AC/DC	100 kV DC	200 kV DC	300 kV DC	400 kV DC	500 kV DC	600 kV DC	800 kV DC
1.	below 11 kV AC	3.05	4.71	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
2.	11-66 kV AC	3.05	4.71	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
3.	110-132kV AC	3.05	4.71	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
4.	220 kV AC	4.58	4.71	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
5.	200 kV DC	4.71	4.71	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
6.	300 kV AC	5.32	5.32	5.32	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
7.	400 kV AC	5.49	5.49	5.49	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
8.	400 kV DC	6.04	6.04	6.04	6.04	6.79	7.54	9.04
9.	500 kV DC	6.79	6.79	6.79	6.79	6.79	7.54	9.04
10.	600 kV DC	7.54	7.54	7.54	7.54	7.54	7.54	9.04
11.	765 kV AC	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	9.04
12.	800 kV DC	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	7.94	9.04	9.04
13.	1200kV AC	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44	10.44

6. Who Will Provide Guarding:
   The person laying the new line must:
   (I) Provide guarding on their own line, or
   (II) Ask the other line owner to provide guarding.
7. Who Pays for Guarding:
   The cost of guarding must be paid by the person who installed their line later.
8. Lines Should Cross at Right Angles:
   When two lines cross, they should do so as close to 90 degrees as possible and close to the supporting poles. The pole of the lower line should not be placed under the upper line.
9. Who Maintains the Guarding:
   The owner of the pole where the guarding is installed must ensure its proper maintenance.

72. Guarding

(1) General Rules for Guarding:
When safety guarding is required, the following rules must be followed:

• Earthing the Guard Wire:
  Every guard wire must be connected to the earth (grounded) at every point where the wire is cut or interrupted.
• Strength of the Guard Wire:
  Each guard wire must be strong enough to hold at least 635 kg of weight.
  If it is made of iron or steel, it must be galvanised (rustprotected).
• Current Carrying Capacity:
  The guard wire must be able to carry electric current safely.
  It should be strong enough to make the live wire (if it touches the guard) electrically dead, without the guard wire melting or breaking, until the live wire is removed.

(2) Guarding for Lines Crossing Over Trolley Wires:
When an overhead line crosses over electric trolley wires, the guarding should follow these rules:

• One Trolley Wire:
  Use two guard wires (see DIAGRAM-A).
• Two Trolley Wires, Distance ≤ 40 cm:
  Use two guard wires (see DIAGRAM-B).
• Two Trolley Wires, Distance > 40 cm and ≤ 1.2 m:
  Use three guard wires (see DIAGRAM-C).
• Two Trolley Wires, Distance > 1.2 m:
  Each trolley wire must have its own separate guard (see DIAGRAM-D).

5. Limit on Trolley Boom Movement:
   The trolley boom (the moving part that holds the trolley wire) must not rise too high.
   It should be limited so that the trolley wire does not touch or hit the guard wires.
6. Protection from Falling Telegraph Lines:
   If a telegraph line can fall or be blown onto a stay-wire, arm, or span-wire and slide down onto the trolley wire,
   guard hooks must be used to stop the wire from sliding onto the trolley wire.

74. Earthing

1. For Overhead Lines up to 33 kV:

(a) All metal poles and cement concrete poles (RCC or PSC) must be properly earthed using a continuous earth wire. This wire should be securely fixed to each pole and connected to the ground.
Also, all metal parts attached to these poles must be earthed.
(b) Metal cross arms and insulator pins on cement poles (PCC or PSC) must be connected (bonded) together and earthed at every pole.
(c) In special areas like near railways, line crossings, or big structures, pipe or rod-type earthing must be used.
(d) All steel poles that have switches, transformers, or fuses on them must be earthed.
(e) For lines below 650 volts:

(f) Each stay-wire must also be earthed, unless it has an insulator of the same voltage class at a height of at least 3 metres from the ground, and it must be covered with an insulated tube up to 3 metres from ground level.

2. For Overhead Lines of 66 kV and Above:

Earthing rules and earth wire requirements will follow the regulations set by the Authority under Section 177(2)(e) of the Electricity Act.

76. Safety and protective devices.

(1) If an overhead line:

• is not hung from a dead bearer wire,
• is not covered with insulation, and
• is not a trolley wire,
  

and it passes over streets, public places, factories, mines, or private premises,
then it must be guarded using earthing (grounding) so that if the wire breaks, it becomes safe and does not cause electric shock.

(2) An Electrical Inspector can officially ask the line owner, through a written notice,
to provide safety guarding as mentioned in point (1) — wherever the line is installed.
(3) To stop birds from dropping waste on suspension insulator strings,
proper bird guards (as per standard designs) must be installed on the cross arms of towers or poles, above the insulator strings.

77. Protection against lightning

(1) The owner of any overhead line, substation, or power station that is at risk from lightning must follow proper safety standards.
They must install devices (like lightning arresters) to divert lightning surges safely to the ground and prevent injuries.

(2) The earthing wire (earth lead) from the lightning arrester
must:

• Be kept as short as possible
• Not pass through iron or steel pipes
• Be connected directly to the grounding electrode or earth mat used in substations (above 650 V), without touching any metal parts
• Avoid sharp bends, as far as possible
  .

Also, a vertical earth electrode must be connected to the junction point of the earth mat

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