AIPEF has sought a wider assessment of the proposed licence’s impact on Haryana’s public electricity distribution system.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) not to take any “unilateral, hurried or predetermined” decision on the proposed grant of a parallel electricity distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited for Gurugram and Nuh.
AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey said the manner in which the proceedings are being conducted has raised concerns among power engineers, employees, consumers and other stakeholders. He also referred to a caveat filed by Eleven Power before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, saying the move appeared to anticipate a possible legal challenge to the outcome of the HERC proceedings.
“The question naturally arises as to how an applicant can so confidently anticipate a future legal challenge while the regulatory proceedings are still under way,” Mr. Dubey said. He, however, clarified that the federation is not alleging that HERC has already taken a decision in favour of Eleven Power.
He said that if HERC granted the licence without giving AIPEF and other affected stakeholders a “full and meaningful” opportunity to be heard, it would raise questions about the fairness of the regulatory process.
Impact on public sector
According to AIPEF, the proposed parallel licence is not merely a commercial matter, as Gurugram and Nuh are among the high-revenue areas of Haryana’s public electricity distribution system.
The federation said the proposal required a comprehensive assessment of its impact on the existing public-sector distribution companies (DISCOMs), consumers, farmers and employees, as well as the financial viability of the public power sector.
Warns of legal action
AIPEF also urged Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Energy Minister Anil Vij to intervene and ensure that no decision is taken in haste or without considering the larger public interest.
The federation demanded that HERC provide all affected stakeholders an opportunity to be heard, address their objections before passing a final order, and maintain institutional neutrality in the proceedings.
Mr. Dubey said AIPEF would pursue “democratic, constitutional and lawful means”, including legal remedies, if a parallel licence is granted without what the federation considered a fair and transparent process.
“We will not allow the public electricity distribution system to be dismantled through the back door,” he said.
Published – October 05, 2026 09:13 pm IST
