The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has clarified that a manufacturer’s laboratory accredited to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories can be used to qualify equipment for type tests in the power sector.

The clarification was issued in response to industry requests regarding CEA’s Guidelines for type tests of major equipment in the power sector

However, the type test must be conducted in the presence of another representative of a different NABL-accredited laboratory or by any of the purchasing utilities. In the absence of both, a CEA representative can oversee the type testing.

Type tests are performed on any equipment that conforms to relevant national/international standards to validate the design and quality, and to demonstrate that it meets the equipment’s functional requirements for its intended applications.

According to the revised guidelines, the power utility purchasing the equipment cannot reject it for supply on technical grounds if it has successfully passed the type test.

It also mandates that type tests on equipment be conducted preferably in India, either at an independent laboratory approved by the government or at a laboratory accredited by the country’s National Accreditation Body.

Type tests for indigenous equipment, for which testing facilities are not available in India, must be conducted in a laboratory of a foreign country accredited by that country’s national accreditation body.

Type tests on imported equipment must be conducted in an Indian laboratory or in a foreign laboratory accredited by the National Accreditation Body of the country where the test is conducted.

Manufacturers must not produce or supply equipment if it fails the type test.

In the case of gas-insulated switchgear and hybrid switchgear, type test reports from the parent company, collaborator, or a subsidiary located in another country may be accepted if the Indian manufacturing plant has followed the same design, materials, and processes used by the parent company, collaborator, or subsidiary.

Manufacturers must repeat the type tests if there is a change in technology, basic design, material, manufacturing process, or any combination of these.

To reduce India’s dependence on imports for the power transmission and distribution sector, the CEA identified 73 items and formulated a comprehensive localization strategy based on criticality, feasibility, and industry readiness. In 2025, CEA reported that the transformer failure rate averaged around 10%, or nearly 1.3 million failures annually.