A joint front of Haryana power engineers and employees has announced a three-day state-wide strike from October 22 to 24 in protest against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's (HERC) decision to grant a 25-year parallel power distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited for the Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts.
Protest plans and leadership comments
The decision to stage mass agitations, including effigy-burning and symbolic demonstrations, was taken at an emergency meeting of the front in Karnal on Monday evening, the joint front said. Joint front spokesperson Baljit Beniwal described the HERC order as a "black day" for the state and alleged it amounted to "indirect privatisation" of Haryana's power sector.
"Handing over high-revenue industrial and commercial hubs like Gurugram and Nuh to a private player is a direct attempt to cripple the state-owned Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN)," Beniwal said.
The front said it would burn effigies of Union energy minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, and HERC chairman Mukesh Garg on Tuesday at multiple locations. On October 21, employees will burn copies of the HERC ruling, which they labelled a "black order," across the state. The three-day strike will follow, and the front has said it will announce the next phase of action on the final day of the strike.
What the HERC order entails
Under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, Eleven Power has been granted a parallel licence to construct a separate distribution network in the Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts for a period of 25 years. The firm has proposed an investment of ₹4,716 crore over five years and plans to offer consumers an alternative to the incumbent state distribution utility.
HERC's move makes Eleven Power the first private entity to receive a parallel power distribution licence in Haryana. The company says it will build a parallel network that could enable over 8.3 lakh consumers to choose between the private operator and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), the state-run distributor for the region.
Concerns of employees and engineers
The joint front argues that granting a licence to a private firm for high-revenue commercial and industrial areas would weaken DHBVN's financial position and operational viability. The front fears this is the start of a larger sell-off or gradual handover of distribution responsibilities in the state.
In its statement, the front listed actions planned over the coming days:
- October 21 — burning of HERC order copies at various locations across the state;
- October 22–24 — three-day strike statewide by power engineers and employees;
- October 24 — announcement of the next phase of agitation depending on the outcome of the strike.
Potential implications and public interest
The strike call by power department staff could affect routine operations and services provided by DHBVN, particularly consumer grievance redressal, meter reading, billing and some field services if large numbers of employees adhere to the action. The front did not give details on whether emergency services and critical operations would be exempted.
Eleven Power's proposed ₹4,716 crore investment, if realised, would represent a significant private capital inflow into Haryana's power distribution segment. The company and HERC maintain that parallel licence frameworks are allowed under the Electricity Act to introduce competition and improve service quality, but the labour front says the move threatens the public utility's future.
Where the issue stands
HERC's order remains the formal decision granting the licence; the framing of regulatory conditions, timelines for network rollout and the modalities for consumer choice will be matters for the licence and subsequent approvals. The joint front has made clear it will intensify its agitation until the order is rolled back or modified to its satisfaction.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Licence duration | 25 years |
| Proposed investment | ₹4,716 crore over five years |
| Consumers potentially affected | 8.3 lakh (may choose between providers) |
| Areas covered | Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts |
Officials at HERC and representatives of Eleven Power were not quoted in the front's statement circulated after the Karnal meeting. The ruling commission's rationale and any conditions attached to the licence have not been included in the front's communique.
The coming days will test whether the strike disrupts services or prompts dialogue between the government, regulator, the private licensee and employee associations. The joint front has framed the issue as one of protecting a state utility's future; HERC and Eleven Power present the decision as one intended to introduce competition and investment. The matter sits at the intersection of regulatory policy, labour rights and the changing structure of power distribution in the state.
