Photo Source: ANI
Power Engineers and Employees to stage protest in Delhi on Jan 30
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, November 5, 2025: The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has announced that power sector employees and engineers across the country will hold a nationwide protest in the national capital on January 30, 2026, to oppose the privatization of the electricity sector and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), which represents power sector workers from all Indian states. The rally, scheduled at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, is expected to see participation from thousands of engineers, employees, and representatives of allied organizations.
According to AIPEF Media Advisor V.K. Gupta, the meeting was attended by AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey, Secretary General P. Ratnakar Rao, and several senior leaders, including Mohan Sharma, Sudeep Datta, K. Ashok Rao, Krishna Bhoyur, Laxman Rathod, Santosh Khumkar, and Sanjay Thakur.
The committee also resolved to form a united front with farmers' unions and consumer organizations to build a national movement against the proposed privatization measures and policy changes under the Amendment Bill. The first meeting of this united front will be held in Delhi on December 14, 2025.
NCCOEEE has urged the Central Government to immediately withdraw what it termed an “anti-farmer, anti-consumer, and anti-employee” bill, warning that over 2.7 million power employees and engineers would be compelled to launch a nationwide agitation if their concerns remain unaddressed.
AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey stated that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to privatize the entire energy sector, which will drastically increase electricity tariffs, making power unaffordable for both farmers and ordinary consumers.
He pointed out that under Sections 14, 42, and 43 of the proposed Bill, private companies will gain access to the infrastructure of government distribution companies (DISCOMs) and will pay only nominal fees to use their networks. “The financial burden will fall on government DISCOMs, while private players will profit freely from the same network,” Dubey said.
He further highlighted that private companies will not be obligated to ensure universal power supply, leading to potential disparities in service. The Bill also proposes amending Section 61(g) to eliminate cross-subsidies within five years and to enforce “cost-reflective tariffs,” meaning no consumer will receive electricity below production cost.
“This would result in farmers paying around ₹12,000 per month for running a 6.5 HP pump for six hours a day, and electricity costs for poor households could soar to ₹10–₹12 per unit,” Dubey warned.
He also raised concerns about the proposal to promote virtual power markets and market-based trading, which he said could destabilize long-term agreements and make electricity prices volatile.
Dubey emphasized that electricity falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, giving both central and state governments equal powers. However, he argued that the Amendment Bill allows the Centre to encroach upon state jurisdiction in electricity distribution and tariff determination, which “undermines the federal spirit of the Constitution.”
“This Bill threatens the very foundation of India’s federal and public electricity system. The AIPEF and NCCOEEE will continue to fight for the rights of consumers, farmers, and employees until the government withdraws it,” Dubey affirmed.