Power Unions To Protest Against Electricity Bill Today

Hyderabad: AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey announced that joint protests would be held on Tuesday by power employees, Central trade unions, and Samyukta Kisan Morcha against the Central government’s draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Calling the Bill a ploy for privatization that would undermine public control of distribution companies (discoms) and imperil worker security, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) chief on Sunday warned of privatisation and job losses despite government pledges of consumer and industry gains.

Talking to Deccan Chronicle, Dubey said proposed tariff reforms carried the danger of hidden hikes. He said the non-fossil fuel mandates proposed in the legislation were onerous, and saw a corporate bias in some provisions.

He said protests would also target the SHANTI Bill (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India), as he said it is "draconian" for dismantling nuclear safety frameworks and inviting private and foreign companies to enter into hazardous sectors.

Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday had claimed that the Bill would strengthen the power sector, tackling the financial woes staring at discoms. Key provisions, he noted, included cost-reflective tariffs, enabled state electricity regulatory commissions (ERCs) to act suo motu on delayed filings, and permitted state subsidies for domestic and agricultural users.

The minister said reducing cross-subsidies enhances industrial competitiveness, supporting MSMEs and jobs, while freeing discoms from large consumers (who can exit with notice) lowers fixed costs for smaller users.

Centre's Reforms

1. Green energy push: Mandates solar/wind via open markets to cut discom costs and boost the environment.

2. Share Wires, Save Money: Network sharing avoids duplication, reducing bills.

3. Faster court help: Expanded electricity tribunal for swift dispute resolution.

4. Farmer compensation: Market-rate payouts for land over which power lines pass.

5. Teamwork council: Centre-state collaboration for unified power policies.

6. Overall Aim: Fix leaky discoms, spur factory jobs, reliable supply—sans privatization, cuts, or home/farm hikes.

Unions' Key Objections

1. Full privatisation: Bill will hand over power distribution sector to private firms, ending public distribution.

2. Skyrocketing bills: Farmers face hefty charges (e.g., Rs 12,000 a month for 6.5 HP pump); poor domestic consumers have to pay Rs 10-12/unit.

3. Cherry-picking: Private firms can public networks at low rates, serving only profitable clients.

4. Public maintenance burden: Discoms will bear the cost of upkeep, risking bankruptcy.

5. No universal duty: Private firms can skip rural areas and the poor, widening gaps.

6. Federal overreach: Centre usurps state powers on tariffs/distribution.