For quicker processing of applications for electrical installations in industrial establishments or commercial complexes or residential buildings, the Tamil Nadu government has decentralised powers and functions, hitherto exercised by the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government (CEIG), to electrical inspectors and senior electrical inspectors.
According to a notification issued last week, district-level electrical inspectors, numbering 23, have been empowered to scrutinise the drawings of new installations such as transformers or diesel generator sets or electrical motors, whose capacity is up to 630 Kilo-volt Ampere (KVA); carry out inspection; and issue permission.
Senior electrical inspectors will handle the applications for installations with a capacity of 630 KVA to 2500 KVA. Only installations that are over 2500-KVA capacity will be referred to the CEIG. In all the three cases, loads of voltage should exceed 650 V, and the height of multi-storey buildings, where the installations will be put up, should be more than 15 metres. These rules will also apply to addition or alteration of installations. In the cases where the voltage is up to 650 V, the electrical inspectors will handle them, says the order of the State Energy Department.
Till now, all applications from across the State, regardless of capacity, were referred to the CEIG’s office in Chennai. This took longer for approvals, points out an official. The previous norms were issued 20 years ago.
As per the notification, the district-level electrical inspectors can grant permission for the installations put up for VVIP visits and public meetings.
