Section 51. Other businesses of distribution licensees.

A distribution licensee may, with prior intimation to the Appropriate Commission, engage in any other business for optimum utilisation of its assets: Provided that a proportion of the revenues derived from such business shall, as may be specified by the concerned State Commission, be utilised for reducing its charges for wheeling: Provided further that the distribution licensee shall maintain separate accounts for each such business undertaking to ensure that distribution business neither subsidises in any way such business undertaking nor encumbers its distribution assets in any way to support such business: Provided also that nothing contained in this section shall apply to a local authority engaged, before the commencement of this Act, in the business of distribution of electricity.