Rural Electrification Policy.

In compliance with Sections 4 & 5 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Government notifies through this Resolution, the Rural Electrification Policy. The Policy aims at: Provision of access to electricity to all households by year 2009; Quality and reliable power supply at reasonable rates; Minimum lifeline consumption of 1 unit per household per day as a merit good by year 2012. The progress of Rural Electrification would be reviewed in terms of the achievements vis-à-vis the above Goal.
The State Governments should, within 6 months prepare and notify a Rural Electrification Plan to achieve the goal of providing access to all households. The Rural Electrification Plan should map and detail the electrification delivery mechanisms (grid or stand alone) considering inter alia the available technologies, environmental norms, fuel availability, number of un-electrified households, distance from the existing grid etc.
The Central Government shall, after consultation with the State Governments, prepare and notify a national policy, permitting stand alone systems (including those based on renewable sources of energy and non-conventional sources of energy ) for rural areas. Section 5. The Central Government shall also formulate a national policy, in consultation with the State Governments and the State Commissions, for rural electrification and for bulk purchase of power and management of local distribution in rural areas through Panchayat Institutions, users’ associations, co-operative societies, non-Governmental organisations or franchisees.