Allowed

M/s.Sri Balasubramania Mills v. Tamil Nadu Generation and

Madras HC17 Nov 2021WP/1251/2015

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court quashed a demand notice for harmonic control charges issued to a petitioner connected to 11kv/22kv lines. Relying on CEA regulations and clarifications, the Court held that such norms only apply to bulk consumers at 33kv or above, and the general Electricity Act provisions do not authorize levying these charges on lower voltage consumers.

What did the court decide?

The impugned demand notice dated 09.12.2014 for harmonic control is quashed, and the writ petition is allowed.

M/s.Sri Balasubramania Mills Vs Tamil Nadu… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Madras HC (2021)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 17.11.2021

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM

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W.P.NO.1251 OF 2015 AND M.P.NO.1 OF 2015

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M/s.Sri Balasubramania Mills Ltd., HT SC No.205, Represented by its Manager, Mr.P.Sakthivel, 483, Kamaraj Road, Uppilipalayam Post, Coimbatore – 641 015.

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...Petitioner

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Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) Represented by its Chairman and Managing Director, 144, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.

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The Superintending Engineer (i/c) Coimbatore Electricity District Circle/Metro, Coimbatore – 641 012.

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Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Represented by its Chairperson,

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6^th Floor, Sewa Bhawan, R.K.Puram, New Delhi – 110 066.

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Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) Represented by its Secretary, 19-A, Rukmini Lakshmipathy Salai (Marshall's Road) Egmore, Chennai – 600 008.

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... Respondents

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the 2^nd respondent culminating in the impugned letter No.Lr.No.SE/CEDC/M/CBE/AEEGL/AE/F.Harmonics/D.No.1354/14-15 dated 9.12.2014, quash the same and forbear the 1^st and 2^nd respondents, their men, officers,

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agents, servants, representatives and/or any one claiming through or under them and/or or any other person from in any manner insisting on harmonic control and levying, demanding and/or collecting charges and compensation for harmonics dumping from the petitioner for their HT SC No.205 either through the CC Bills or in any other manner.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Bharanidharan

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For Respondents

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: Mr.M.Abdul Kalam

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Standing counsel [For TANGEDCO] [For R1 & R2]

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Mr.Su.Srinivasan [For R3]

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No appearance for R4

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O R D E R

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The impugned Demand Notice passed by the 2^nd respondent, dated 09.12.2014, is sought to be quashed in the present writ petition and a further direction is also sought to forbear the 1^st and 2^nd respondents, their men, officers, agents, servants, representatives and/or any one claiming through or under them and/or or any other person from in any manner insisting on harmonic control and levying, demanding and/or collecting charges and compensation for harmonics dumping from the petitioner for their HT SC No.205 either through the CC Bills or in any other manner.

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2.The relief sought for in the present writ petition is similar to the relief sought for by the writ petitioners in a batch of writ petitions in W.P.No.25 of 2015 [M/s.S.Palaniyandi Mudaliar Memorial Hospital v. TANGEDCO], etc. and batch, which was decided by this Court on 05.06.2017.

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3.The relevant paragraphs of the said order are extracted hereunder :

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“24. In view of the above, since the harmonics have several undesirable effects and affects power quality, on 21.02.2007, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) introduced a new Regulation and accordingly, its Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid Regulations, 2007, came for enforcement. Applicability of the Regulations is provided in Regulation 3, which reads as under:

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“3. Applicability of the Regulations – These Regulations shall be applicable to all the users, requesters, Central Transmission Utility and State Transmission Utility.”

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It is clear from the above that the the said Regulation is applicable only to four categories, namely, Users, Requesters, Central Transmission Utility and State Transmission Utility.

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In this context, let me find out the meaning given under the CEA Regulations, 2007, for Users and Requesters. Section 2(34) defines the meaning of “User”, which is given as under:-

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“2(34)-- User means a person such as, a Generating Company including captive generating plant or Transmission Licensee (other than the Central Transmission Utility and State Transmission Utility) or Distribution Licensee or Bulk Consumer, whose electrical plant is connected to the grid at voltage level 33kv and above.”

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Section 2(25) defines the meaning of “Requester”, which is given as under:-

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“2(25)-- Requester means a person, such as a Generating Company including captive generating plant or Transmission Licensee (excluding Central Transmission Utility and State Transmission Utility) or Distribution Licensee or Bulk Consumer, who is seeking connection of his new or expanded electrical plant to the Grid at voltage level 33kv and above.”

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A conjoint reading of the above said provisions show that a person such as, Generating Company including captive generating plant or Transmission Licensee or Distribution Licensee or Bulk Consumer, whose electrical plant is connected to the grid at voltage level 33 kv and above. Therefore, it is clear that the above said Regulations are applicable to only those consumers whose electrical plant is connected to the Grid at the voltage level of 33kv and above, hence, the petitioners, who are connected to the Grid at voltage level of 11kv/22kv supply lines, cannot be made applicable under the said Regulations.

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Again, to be more clear, it is also pertinent to refer to Section 34 of the Electricity Act, 2003, dealing with the Grid Standards, which is given as under:-

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“34. Grid Standards.---Every transmission licensee shall comply with such technical standards, of operation and maintenance of transmission lines, in accordance with the Grid Standards, as may be specified by the Authority.”

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It is clear from the above that Section 34 of the Electricity Act, 2003, mandates every transmission licensee to comply with such technical standards of operation and maintenance as may be specified by the Authority, which means, as per Section 2(6) of the Act, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is the Authority as referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 70. Thus, the CEA, established under Section 70 and whose functions are set forth in Section 73, has the exclusive powers under Section 73(d) of the Act. It is also pertinent to extract Section 73(d) of the Act, which is given as under:-

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“(d) specify the Grid Standards for operation and maintenance of transmission lines.”

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In view of the above legal position, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), being an Apex Body, is the appropriate authority on the issue of Grid Standards and to ensure both National Grid Code and State Grid Code are consistent and there cannot be any inconsistencies of different standards at the State level. This is purely for the purpose of ensuring uniform operation across the country. It is also an admitted fact that the National Grid Code and the State Grid Code do not have any provision with regard to harmonics.

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In this context, it is relevant to refer to Clause 3 of Part IV of the CEA Regulations, 2007, which is given as under:-

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“3. Voltage and Current Harmonics --

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(1) The total harmonic distortion for voltage at the connection point shall not exceed 5% with no individual harmonic higher than 3%.

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(2) The total harmonic distortion for current drawn from the transmission system at the connection point shall not exceed 8%.

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(3) The limits prescribed in (1) and (2) shall be implemented in a phased manner so as to achieve complete compliance not later than five years from the date of publication of these regulations in the official Gazette.”

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Although Clause 3 of Part IV of the CEA Regulations, 2007, says that the total harmonic distortion for voltage at the connection point shall not exceed 5% with no individual harmonic higher than 3% and that the total harmonic for current drawn from the transmission system at the connection point shall not exceed 8%, the limits prescribed as mentioned above shall be implemented in a phased manner so as to achieve complete compliance not later than five years from the date of publication of these regulations in the official Gazette.

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It is an admitted fact that the CEA Regulations came into force in the year 2007, however, even after a lapse of 9 years, the TANGEDCO has not published any notification in the official Gazette enforcing the consumers, who are connected with 11kv/22kv supply lines, to install harmonic filers so as to levy harmonic compensation charges.

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Moreover, when this Court directed the learned Additional Solicitor General of India to get instruction whether the consumers connected to a distribution system irrespective of the capacity of supply they receive including 11kv and 22kv supply lines need to provide harmonic control equipments, as a reply thereto, the Chief Engineer (Legal), Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power, New Delhi, in his letter dated 10.08.2015, has clarified that the CEA Regulations, with respect to compensation on account of harmonic distortions, are applicable to only those consumers, who are connected to 33kv or above, namely, only bulk consumers. For better appreciation, relevant portion of the said communication is extracted below:-

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“This is reference to your letter dated 07.08.2015 on the above subject. It is to inform that almost 305 case are filed in the Hon'ble Court by the petitioners having grievances

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similar to this case. It is to submit that:

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(i) CEA Regulation with respect to compensation on account of harmonic distortions is applicable to only those consumers who are connected at 33kv or above.

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(ii) Further any consumer who is connected below 33kv to the distribution system is not governed by the Grid Standards for connectivity to the Grid.

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(iii) The Grid is defined under Electricity Act, 2003, stating that the Grid is high voltage backbone system of inter-connected transmission lines, sub station and generating plants.

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Therefore, only systems which can directly affect the Grid are covered under such Standards and as such the present petition for the consumers connected at 33kv or above which are defined as Bulk Consumer shall be covered for Harmonic Compensation.”

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Subsequent to the above said communication, one Mr.P.D.Siwal, Secretary to the Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi, issued a clarification on 26.08.2015 with regard to applicability of Part IV of CEA Regulations, 2007. Relevant portion of the said communication is extracted below:

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“This has reference to the Part IV of the CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations, 2007. It is clarified that:

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(iii) The condition of voltage and current harmonic as prescribed under Part IV is applicable only to the consumers which are defined as bulk consumers and drawing power at 33kv and above.

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(iv) For the purpose of bulk consumer means a consumer who avails supply at voltage of 33kv or above.

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Therefore, Part IV of CEA Regulations is applicable only to consumers drawing power at 33kv or above and any consumer who is drawing power below 33kv shall not be covered under Part IV of CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity of the Grid) Regulations, 2007.”

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From the above said communications of the Chief Engineer (Legal) as well as the Secretary of the

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Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi, it is crystal clear that the consumers connected with 11kv/22kv supply lines are placed outside the scope and purview of the Part IV of the CEA Regulations, 2007, and that it has further categorically clarified that 11kv/22kv supply lines consumers are not subjected to harmonic control norms, however, 33kv and above supply lines consumers are alone directed to comply with harmonic control norms. Thus, the impugned demands issued by the respondent/TANGEDCO directing the petitioners, who are admittedly connected with 11kv/22kv supply lines, are against the CEA Regulations, 2007.

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Further, it is also pertinent to note that the CEA, who is the competent authority to declare the harmonic distortion levels, has not declared harmonic distortion levels to the consumers connected with 11kv/22kv either through the CEA Regulations, 2007, or by any other relevant provisions. Therefore, until the CEA prescribes any standard of harmonics for 11kv/22kv supply lines consumers and makes them also obligatory for harmonic controls, no obligation can be cast upon the 11kv/22kv supply lines consumers for compliance.

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Taking support from Sections 50, 86 and 181 of the Act read with Regulation 4(1)(iv) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, learned Additional Advocate General sought to sustain the impugned order levying harmonic charges on the 11kv/22kv supply line consumers. In this context, let me extract below the above said provisions:

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The Electricity Supply Code :- The State Commission shall specify an Electricity Supply Code to provide for recovery of electricity charges, intervals for billing of electricity charges, disconnection of supply of electricity for non-payment thereof, restoration of supply of electricity, tampering, distress or damage to electrical plat, electric lines or meter, entry of distribution licensee or any person acting on his behalf for disconnecting supply and removing the meter, entry for replacing, altering or maintaining electric lines or electrical plant or meter. “Section 86 - Functions of State Commission.-

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(1) The State Commission shall discharge the following functions, namely:--

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(a) determine the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity, wholesale, bulk or retail, as the case may be, within the State: Provided that where open access has been permitted to a category of consumers under section 42, the State Commission shall determine only the wheeling charges and surcharge thereon, if any, for the said category of consumers;

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(b) regulate electricity purchase and procurement process of distribution licensees including the price at which electricity shall be procured from the generating companies or licensees or from other sources through agreements for purchase of power for distribution and supply within the State;

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(d) issue licences to persons seeking to act as transmission licensees, distribution licensees and electricity traders with respect to their operations within the State;

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(e) promote cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy by providing suitable measures for connectivity with the grid and sale of electricity to any person, and also specify, for purchase of electricity from such sources, a percentage of the total consumption of electricity in the area of a distribution licensee;

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(f) adjudicate upon the disputes between the licensees and generating companies and to refer any dispute for arbitration;

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(g) levy fee for the purposes of this Act;

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(h) specify State Grid Code consistent with the Grid Code specified under clause (h) of subsection (1) of section 79;

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(i) specify or enforce standards with respect to quality, continuity and reliability of service by licensees;

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(j) fix the trading margin in the intra-State trading of electricity, if considered, necessary; (k) discharge such other functions as may be assigned to it under this Act.”

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Section 50 of the Act dealing with the Electricity Supply Code statutorily provides for the cases, inter

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alia, with regard to the tampering of electric lines or meter and method of collection of electricity charges. Similarly, Section 86 of the Act empowers the State Commission to determine the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity, wholesale, bulk and retail within the State. But, till date, it has not provided for setting up of standards for harmonics charges. Therefore, neither Section 50 nor Section 86 of the Act supports respondent TANGEDCO in the matter of levying of harmonic charges on the 11kv/22kv supply line consumers.

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Likewise, Section 181 gives power to the State Commission to make Regulations consistent with the Act and Rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. By exercising such power, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission had issued the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, wherein the Regulation 4 (1)(iv) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, which is extracted below, deals with additional charges for harmonic dumping.

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“4.Charges recoverable by the Licensee

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– The charges, recoverable by the Licensee from the consumers are:-

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xxxx

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(1). Tariff related charges, namely, -

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(iv). Additional charges for harmonics

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dumping

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Where any equipment installed by a consumer generates harmonics, the consumer shall provide adequate harmonic suppression units to avoid dumping of harmonics into Licensee's distribution system and the Licensee is at liberty to provide suitable metering equipment to measure the harmonic level pursuant to such harmonic. Where the consumer fails to provide such units, he shall be liable to pay compensation at such rates as the Commission may declare from time to time.”

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In view of Regulation 4(1)(iv) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, although the State has got power to direct the consumers to install harmonic filters irrespective of their voltage connection as stated by learned Additional Advocate General for the TANGEDCO, the same cannot be sustained in view of nonspecification of any standard of harmonics for 11kv/22kv/supply line consumers by the CEA, who, being an Apex Body as per Section 73(d) of the Act, has

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exclusive powers to specify the Grid Standards for operation and maintenance of transmission lines.

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Thus, for all the reasons stated above, the impugned demands are quashed. Consequently, the writ petitions are allowed. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed. ”

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In view of the fact that the case of the petitioner is

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also similar to that of the cases cited supra, the petitioner is also entitled to the relief.

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Accordingly, the impugned demand notice in Lr.No.SE/CEDC/M/CBE/AEE-GL/AE/F.Harmonics/D.No.1354/14-15dated 09.12.2014 is quashed and the writ petition stands allowed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

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Sd/-

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Assistant Registrar(CO)

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//True Copy//

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Sub Assistant Registrar

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kak

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