Haryana power discoms seek review of licence

State-owned power distribution companies — Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam — have filed a review petition before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), alleging that the parallel distribution licence granted to a private company was in violation of the Electricity Act, 2003, and the standards prescribed under the applicable statutory rules, 2022.

The discoms have also questioned HERC’s reliance on the findings of the Expert Committee, alleging that these were based on incorrect facts and contrary to the power infrastructure requirements and interests of consumers.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Power Employees’ Association (HPEA) and the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) have filed caveats before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), seeking to ensure that no ex-parte order is passed without hearing the State government and power engineers.

The Haryana Power Employees and Engineers Joint Struggle Front has demanded that the State government effectively defend HERC’s October 28 order before APTEL through its top legal officers and senior advocates. It has also called for a policy decision to revoke the parallel distribution licence.

The Front has sought Cabinet approval for a comprehensive and permanent State Power Policy at the next meeting, explicitly ruling out all forms of privatisation, including parallel licensing, the Agri DISCOM model, Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB), stock market listing of power utilities and smart metering.

Front spokesperson Ravinder Ghanghas warned that any attempt to impose privatisation policies in violation of established rules and procedures would force electricity employees and engineers across the country to launch strong protests.

A member of the power employees’ joint front said the Energy Minister Anil Vij had assured union and association representatives at a meeting on August 10 that the matter concerning Eleven Power Limited’s application for a parallel distribution licence would be referred to the Cabinet for a decision. However, the matter had not reached the Cabinet to date, with the file merely moving between departments, the member said. The licence was subsequently granted on October 19.

Mr. Vij could not be reached out for his comments on the matter.