Powercom employees join nationwide protest against Electricity (Amendment) Bill, privatisation

Lakhs of power sector employees and engineers across the nation staged protest on Thursday against the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the ongoing privatisation process in several states. The nationwide agitation was organised under the banner of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE).

All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF) chairman Shalendra Dubey, in Varanasi, warned that if the Centre and state governments do not reconsider their decision to stop the privatisation process in the power sector, a nationwide agitation would follow.

“The bill would pave the way for the privatisation of the energy sector, resulting in steep hike in tariffs that would push electricity beyond the reach of low-income consumers and farmers,” he said.

According to V K Gupta, media advisor of the AIPEF, demonstrations were held in all states, including Patiala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Dehradun, as well as in major cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati and Lucknow. In Uttar Pradesh, protests were particularly intense in Varanasi and Agra.

“The protesting employees have demanded that the central government withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and stop the privatisation process in Uttar Pradesh”, he added.

Responding to the AIPEF’s call, engineers and employee unions in Patiala organised a strong protest in solidarity with Uttar Pradesh power engineers and employees as they complete one year of their struggle against the privatisation process and the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025.