The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) is the statutory body responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Headquartered in Chennai, it is one of the largest electricity utilities in India and has been a central institution in the state's industrial and rural development since its formation in 1957.
| Name | Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) |
|---|---|
| Type | State-owned electricity utility |
| Founded | 1 July 1957 |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Area served | Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry (Karaikal area, historically) |
| Sector | Electricity generation, transmission, distribution |
| Successor entities | TNEB Limited, TANGEDCO, TANTRANSCO |
Electricity supply in the Madras Presidency had been managed since the early twentieth century through a mix of private licensees and the Madras State Electricity Department. Following the enactment of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, which empowered states to constitute electricity boards, the Government of Madras established the Madras State Electricity Board, later renamed the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board after the state was reorganised as Tamil Nadu in 1969.
Through its successor entities, TNEB owns and operates a portfolio of thermal, hydroelectric, gas and renewable generation assets, along with the state's high-voltage transmission network and distribution infrastructure. Major generating stations associated with TNEB include the Mettur Thermal Power Station, the North Chennai Thermal Power Station, the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station and several hydroelectric stations in the Western Ghats such as Kundah, Periyar and Mettur.
The utility also coordinates with central sector entities such as NTPC, NLC India and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India for share allocations from inter-state generating stations, and is connected to the Southern Regional grid managed by Power Grid Corporation of India.
Tariffs, licensing and operational standards for TNEB and its successor companies are regulated by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), constituted under the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 and continued under the Electricity Act, 2003.
TNEB has played a defining role in Tamil Nadu's industrialisation, agricultural growth and urban expansion. The state's early commitment to rural electrification, supported by free or subsidised power for agriculture, was implemented largely through TNEB. The Board's adoption of wind energy from the 1980s onwards contributed to Tamil Nadu becoming one of the leading states in installed wind capacity in India.