JAMMU, Jul 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has expressed serious concern over the Power Development Department’s notification S.O.-193 dated July 7, 2026, which raises the notified voltage limit for self-certification of electrical installations from 650 volts to 11 kV. The association has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Power portfolio, to review the notification, describing it as a potential threat to electrical safety, public interest and statutory oversight.
At a meeting of its executive body chaired by Sachin Tickoo, President of JKEEGA, the association examined the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Electricity Authority (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023, and the earlier S.O.-368 notification of July 15, 2024, which had fixed the self-certification threshold at 650 volts.
JKEEGA argued that extending self-certification to 11 kV would significantly reduce the role of the Electrical Inspectorate in independently verifying high-tension installations before they are energised. According to the association, such installations involve greater technical complexity and pose higher risks, including electrocution, transformer failures, arc-flash incidents, fire hazards and damage to the power distribution network if not subjected to independent statutory inspection.
The association also questioned the process adopted for issuing the notification, alleging that such a major policy decision was taken without consulting the Power Minister or key stakeholders, including the Chief Electrical Inspector, JPDCL, KPDCL and JKPTCL. It said the earlier notification fixing the threshold at 650 volts reflected a conscious safety policy that should not have been altered without detailed technical studies, stakeholder consultations and an assessment of its impact.
JKEEGA pointed out that several states, including Tamil Nadu, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh, have retained lower voltage thresholds for self-certification, arguing that the CEA regulations allow states to determine limits based on local conditions and safety requirements.
The association has requested the Chief Minister to keep the notification in abeyance until a comprehensive technical, legal and safety review is completed. It has also sought the constitution of a high-level technical committee comprising representatives of the Electrical Inspectorate, Power Development Department, JPDCL, KPDCL, JKPTCL, engineering associations, independent experts and other stakeholders to examine the implications of the notification before any final decision is taken.