Regulations on Supply and Use of Electric Power (2019 Revision)

Regulations on Supply and Use of Electric Power (2019 Revision) Regulations on Supply and Use of Electric Power (Promulgated by Order No. 196 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on April 17, 1996; revised in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Amending Some Administrative Regulations on February 6, 2016; and amended in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Amending Some Administrative Regulations on March 2, 2019) Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Electric Power Law of the People's Republic of China for the purpose of strengthening the administration of the supply and use of electric power, safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of power suppliers and users, maintaining the order of power supply and use, and ensuring the safe, economical and rational supply and use of power. Article 2 All electric power-supply enterprises (hereinafter referred to as power-supply enterprises), users of electric power (hereinafter referred to as consumers) and all units and individuals involved in power supply and use within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall observe these Regulations. Article 3 The electric power administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the work of supervision and control of the power supply and use throughout the country. The electric power administration departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the work of supervision and control of the power supply and use in their respective administrative areas. Article 4 The enterprises that operate power networks shall be responsible for the business of power supply and use in their electric power service areas according to law, and shall be subject to the supervision of the local electric power administration departments. Article 5 The State applies the administrative principles of safe, economical and planned supply and use of electric power. Power-supply enterprises and consumers shall both observe the relevant provisions of the State by adopting effective measures to achieve the safe, economical and planned use of power. Article 6 The power-supply enterprises and consumers shall sign a contract for the supply and use of electric power on the basis of the principles of equality, voluntary participation and agreement reached through consultation. Article 7 The electric power administration departments shall strengthen their supervision and administration of power supply and use, and coordinate the relations between power suppliers and consumers, and ban acts that endanger the safe supply and use of power and illegal use of electric energy. Chapter II Power-supply Service Areas Article 8 Power-supply enterprises shall supply electricity to the consumers within their approved power-supply service areas. In the division of power-supply service areas, factors such as the structure of power networks and the rationality of power supply shall be taken into account. There shall be only one power-supply agency in each power-supply service area. Article 9 To establish or alter a power-supply service area, the power-supply enterprise shall file an application, and the electric power administrative department shall, according to its functions and administration authority, issue to the enterprise an Electric Power Business Permit after examining and approving the application in conjunction with the relevant departments at the same level. The enterprises that operate the power networks shall assist the electric power administration departments in the division of power-supply service areas in line with the structure of power networks and the rationality of power supply. The measures concerning the administration and division of the power-supply service areas shall be formulated by the electric power administration department of the State Council. Article 10 After the operation of a merged power-generating enterprise in line with the merger agreement, the electric power and quantity of electricity it transmits into the power network shall be marketed by the power supply agency in a unified manner. Article 11 Where the electricity capacity of a consumer exceeds the supply capability of the power-supply enterprise within the power-supply service area in which it is located, its electricity shall be supplied by other power-supply enterprises designated by the power administration department at or above the provincial level. Chapter III Power-supply Facilities Article 12 The people's governments at or above the county level shall include the planning for the construction and renovation of the power networks in cities and the countryside in their overall planning for urban and rural construction. The power administration departments at various levels shall, together with the competent administrative authorities and enterprises that operate power networks, work out the planning for the construction and renovation of the power networks in cities and countryside. The power-supply enterprises shall carry out the construction of power-supply facilities and the administration of the operation thereof according to the planning. Article 13 The local people's governments at various levels shall, according to the overall planning for urban and rural construction, make overall arrangements of land used for the power line corridors, cable channels, regional substations, regional distribution stations and operation centers. The power-supply enterprises may, in accordance with the provisions of the State, erect transmission lines, lay cables and build public power-supply facilities along the land approved for line corridors and cable channels, regional substations, regional distribution stations and operation centers. Article 14 The people's governments of townships, nationality townships, and towns and the related departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the construction of road lights for public use, and shall be responsible for their operation and maintenance, and for paying electricity fees. They may entrust the power-supply enterprises with the design, construction, maintenance and administration of highway lighting with compensation. Article 15 The design, construction, testing and operation of power-supply and recipient facilities shall meet the State standards or the stan......