Power is a critical infrastructure for economic growth. Before its unbundling Assam State Electricity Board (hereafter ASEB) was the sole agency to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to the entire state of Assam. ASEB was created in 1975 under the Electricity (Supply) Act 1948. Power sector reforms were initiated in the country in the year 1991 enabling private sector investment in Generation to begin with. State Governments also followed up by reforming State owned utilities. Orissa was the first State to implement comprehensive reforms by unbundling Orissa State Electricity Board. The electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 enabled constitution of regulatory commissions by Central and State Governments. Further thrust was given to the power sector with the enactment of the Electricity Act 2003. In Assam, the State Regulatory Commission of Assam was set up in May 2001.

1. MOU signed with GOI on Power reforms in Feb 2001.

2. Tripartite Agreement Singed between GOI, ADB & GOA in Dec 2003.

3. Unbundling of ASEB into five different companies hiving away Generation, Transmission, and Distribution activities into separate companies in December are.

• Lower Assam Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (LAEDCL)

• Upper Assam Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UAEDCL)

• Central Assam Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (CAEDCL)

• Assam Power Generation Company Ltd (APGCL)

• Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd (AEGCL)

4. On 13th May, 2009, Government of Assam vide notification No. PEL.41/2006/199 transferred, vested the functions, properties, interests, rights, obligations and liabilities of UAEDCL and CAEDCL along with the personnel of the said companies into LAEDCL w.e.f. 1st April 2009.

5. The name ‘Lower Assam Electricity Distribution Company Ltd.’ changed to ‘Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd.’ vide notification SRN A71221971 dated 23/10/2009 of Registrar of Companies, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.