Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
On 14 July 2025 the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) organised protests in 14 districts to oppose privatisation in the power sector. The protests were held outside the offices of chief engineers, superintending engineers and other officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Muktsar Sahib, Ludhiana, Moga, Fazilka, Pathankot, Faridkot and Bathinda.
During the Amritsar protest, state leaders said the state government was aligning with the privatisation policy of the central government. The Punjab government is buying expensive electricity from private thermal power plants. They stated that the Aam Aadmi Party, before forming the government, had promised to cancel these power purchase agreements. They said that instead of cancelling them, the government has been implementing policies that aim to completely privatise the electricity board.
Prepaid meters are being installed under this policy. The Union power minister and Punjab’s power minister, in a press conference, declared that prepaid meters would be installed in all government offices and employee residences by August 31, and thereafter in general households as well. Once prepaid smart meters are installed, consumers will have to charge the meter, like pre-paid phone, in advance. Once the charge is over power will automatically get cut off.
Wherever the pre-paid meters have been installed consumers are complaining of highly inflated bills. Consumers are demanding prepaid meters to be removed.
Farmers fear that the installation of prepaid meters will lead to the end of supply of subsidised power for farming which will further worsen the crisis they have been facing due to unremunerative price for their produce.