INLD Leader Launches Scathing Attack on Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission
In a significant development from Chandigarh, former minister and national patron of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Prof Sampat Singh, has launched a fierce attack on the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission. Speaking on Friday, Prof Singh accused the regulatory body of blatantly flouting established rules to provide undue relief to electricity distribution companies across the state.
Alleged Economic Assault on Consumers
Prof Sampat Singh specifically targeted the commission's acceptance of petitions for implementing a 47-paise-per-unit Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment (FPPA) surcharge. He stated that by relaxing regulations to accommodate these petitions, the commission is effectively launching an economic assault on the general public. "This entire process represents a calculated move to burden consumers with additional costs under questionable circumstances," the senior leader asserted.
Questionable Petition Handling and Timeline
The INLD leader revealed concerning details about how these petitions were processed:
- The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam's petition was accepted on March 3, 2026
- The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam's petition followed on April 8, 2026
- Both acceptances occurred without informing the state's lakhs of electricity consumers
Prof Sampat characterized this entire procedure as "a deception in the name of transparency" that deliberately kept consumers in the dark about significant financial decisions affecting their electricity bills.
Unprecedented Separation of Hearings
Adding to the controversy, the former minister highlighted that for the first time, the petitions and hearings of both distribution companies have been separated in what he called a "planned manner to suppress the matter." Historically, both companies were always heard together, with a single order issued for both entities. The current hearings have been scheduled for May 6 and May 14, 2026, creating what Prof Sampat suggests is an intentional fragmentation of the process.
Lack of Transparency and Documentation
The senior political leader raised serious concerns about transparency, noting that:
- The commission only mentioned accepting the petitions without providing complete descriptions of the detailed petitions on its official website
- The electricity distribution corporations themselves have failed to upload these critical documents on their respective websites
- This information vacuum leaves consumers completely unaware of what the corporations are actually demanding
"In such a situation, how will consumers know what the corporations are demanding?" questioned the former minister, emphasizing the complete lack of accessible information for affected citizens.
Backdoor Introduction of New Charges
Prof Sampat Singh pointed out that the tariff order dated March 25 made no mention of any such fuel surcharge. Despite this omission, new petitions are now being introduced "through the back door" specifically to benefit the distribution companies. He stated that this approach is not only suspicious but raises fundamental questions about the integrity of the entire regulatory system governing electricity in Haryana.
The allegations come at a time when electricity costs and regulatory transparency remain critical issues for consumers across the state, with the INLD leader positioning himself as a vocal critic of what he perceives as systemic failures in consumer protection mechanisms.
