The Federal Executive of the All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF) has voiced strong opposition to the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, calling for its complete withdrawal. The federation has also rejected any provisions that would permit privatisation and fragmentation of the power sector.
Key Demands and Concerns
AIPEF emphasised that any reform in the power sector must prioritise affordability, accessibility, reliability, and public accountability over privatisation and profit maximisation. Shailendra Dubey, Chairman of AIPEF, stated, "The Electricity (Amendment) Bill is not a reform, but a privatisation measure and an attempt to corporatise and privatise generation, transmission and distribution entirely."
Opposition to Multiple Distribution Licensees
The meeting opposed the introduction of multiple distribution licensees in the same area using the same network. The federation argued that such provisions facilitate privatisation, cherry-picking of consumers, weakening of public utilities, and transfer of public assets to private interests. The AIPEF claimed that the power sector is facing deep structural uncertainties due to unstable policy directions, aggressive privatisation trends, and inadequately planned energy transitions.
Participation and Leadership
VK Gupta, media adviser, noted that the federal council meeting of AIPEF was chaired by Shailendra Dubey and attended by 21 state constituents, including Punjab. Woman engineers from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Ladakh participated in the meeting. Rathnakar Rao, secretary general of AIPEF; Basavanna, president; along with other senior office-bearers addressed the gathering.
Opposition to Tabling in Monsoon Session
The AIPEF opposed any unilateral attempt to table the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Bill seeks to permit multiple distribution licensees in the same area using the same publicly funded distribution network under the guise of competition and consumer choice. The federation claimed that this provision will enable private companies to cherry-pick high-paying industrial and commercial consumers, while leaving public discoms with socially obligated consumers, including domestic, agricultural, and rural consumers.
