Press Note of All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF)
It is learnt that the Ministry of Power has convened a meeting of State Power Ministers on 22-23 January to build consensus on the roadmap for privatization of Discoms. Power sector workers and farmers are determined to staunchly oppose these new attempts of privatization of electricity distribution and make the government change its mind as was done with all such previous attempts.
ALL INDIA POWER ENGINEERS FEDERATION
Press Note 07 January, 2026
Ministry of Power meeting with State Governments on 22-23 January Regarding Privatization of DISCOMS and Electricity (Amendment) Bill;
AIPEF says No Proposal for Privatization is Acceptable;
AIPEF to decide future course of action on 18 January at Kolkata.
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) revealed today that the Union Government’s Ministry of Power has called a meeting of all states’ power ministers and officials on the upcoming 22-23 January to build consensus on the privatization of Discoms and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Shailendra Dubey, Chairman AIPEF said that no proposal of privatization of power sector is acceptable to power engineers and the AIPEF Federal Council Meeting scheduled at Kolkata on 18 January shall decide future course of action.
Shailendra Dubey stated that the two-day meeting of Ministry of Power will primarily discuss and decide on issues related to financial packages for DISCOM privatization, the franchise model, and time-bound listing of DISCOMs.
The AIPEF has warned that if any unilateral decision is taken to privatize electricity distribution corporations, disregarding the interests of consumers and farmers, there will be strong backlash. About 2.7 million power employees and engineers across the country will be forced to launch a nationwide movement, for which the entire responsibility will lie with the Central and state governments.
Shailendra Dubey further said that on one hand, the state governments are engaged in establishing a private sector monopoly in the power sector by deciding on privatization, which is not justified in any way.
Now, the Central Government is preparing to allow private entities to mint money using the network of government Discoms through Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Side by side, the Governmentt is trying privatization of electricity distribution corporations, in the name of financial packages. Attempts to end subsidies and cross-subsidies through the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, along with cost-reflective tariffs, are in no way in the interest of farmers and poor consumers.
The AIPEF informed that in this meeting, the Power Ministry will also try to build consensus among states on the draft of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill so that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill can be introduced in the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament.
The AIPEF said that power employees in Uttar Pradesh have been continuously struggling for the past 406 days despite all oppressive actions in opposition to the privatization decision, and the struggle will continue until the privatization decision is withdrawn and all oppressive actions are ended.
Shailendra Dubey
Chairman