THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Tata Power withdraws application seeking licence for parallel distribution of electricity in Karnataka In its June 2026 petition, Bescom had raised some important objections pointing to Tata Power legal noncompliance, network deficiency, consumer protection risks and competition concerns, among others.

Modi government weighs $12 billion bailout package for loss-making ... India is considering a bailout exceeding 1 trillion rupees ($12 billion) for debt-laden state-runpowerdistribution companies. To receive the bailout funds, the states will be required to privatise their electric utilities and transfer managerial control or keep control but list them on a stock exchange, according to three government officials and a document outlining the plan prepared by the Indian Ministry of Power. The plan marks Prime MinisterNarendra Modi‘s toughest reform push yet to overhaul the chronically inefficient state-run electricity distribution companies, seen as the weakest link in India’s energy chain. The Power Ministry and the Ministry of Finance are discussing the final details of the bailout, with an announcement expected in the February budget, said two of the government sources. The ministries did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comments. Under the proposal, at least 20% of the state’s total power consumption must be met by private companies and the states must assume part of the retailer’s debt, according to the Power Ministry presentation. To do so the states can …

Resolution to Resist Privatisation Attacks on the Public Electricity Sector April 5, 2025 The resolution was adopted by the 24th Party Congress of CPI(M) The 24thCongress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses deep concern at the BJP-led Central government’s drive to privatize all public power utilities. They forcefully privatized the highly profitable, efficient and low tariff Chandigarh Power Utility in an irregular manner. Similar attacks of privatization have been unleashed on Power utilities of Uttar Pradesh, where employees are struggling for the last 130 days. Certainly, the Central government is in real haste to privatize the state DISCOMs. A unique regional meeting on the Power sector with several States and UTs has been held on February 20, 2025, especially to frame the privatization process. The government is coming with a new draft of the Electricity Amendment Bill. But these attacks are only a fraction of the multidirectional privatization attempts of the Central government. Already, 52 per cent of India’s power generation capacity is in private hands. Additionally, government mandate to import coal at three times the domestic price is pushing the sta…

Karnataka power employees' union launches 30-day campaign against ... BENGALURU: Basavanna C, general secretary, Federation of Karnataka Electricity Board Employees’ Union and Associations, on Tuesday said they have launched a 30-day drive, asking consumers to join them and oppose the entry of private firms in the energy sector. This comes a day after Tata Power Company Ltd announced that it was applying to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) for distribution licence in select jurisdictions of Bescom, Mescom, Hescom and CESC. Basavanna said they would ask consumers to file objections before the KERC. The union will also appeal to KERC and the state government to reject the proposal. While Eescoms and KPTCL work on no profit-no loss method, private firms only think of profit, he said. The government is offering many subsidy schemes for farmers and economically backward sections, which are not considered by private players. They demand money for any service provided, which is not good for consumers, he said. He said the tariff for consumers will also increase. Citing the example of Maharashtra, he said industrial tariff is around Rs 14 per unit, while in Karna…

AIPEF urges CM Karnataka not to grant parallel licencing to Tata power Share Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp Linkedin Email Print Telegram Shailendra Dubey, Chairman All India Power Engineers Federation(AIPEF) AIPEF urges CM Karnataka not to grant parallel licencing to Tata power Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 27,2026 All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the Chief Minister not to grant a parallel power distribution licence  to Tata Power Company Ltd. As this is a threat to public electricity Infrastructure, consumer welfare and state ESCOM Viability. Shailendera Dubey Chairman AIPEF has written to chief minister Karnataka  seeking urgent intervention regarding five parallel distribution licence applications filed by Tata Power Company Limited Before Karnataka Electricity  Regulatory  Commission (KERC) covering 19 districts across all five state ESCOMs in Karnataka. The five applications are legally unsustainable as the  Sixth Proviso to Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003 permits grant of a parallel distribution licence only where the applicant establishes and operates its own independent distribution network. This requirement is a mandatory st…

Tata Power's Karnataka entry plan sparks protest threat ... - CNBCTV18 Tata Power’s Karnataka entry plan sparks protest threat from KPTCL employees The proposal has sparked opposition from employee unions, which have warned of protests if the application is approved. By CNBCTV18.com May 26, 2026, 11:06:00 AM IST (Published) 3 Min Read In a move that could reshape Karnataka’s power distribution sector, Tata Power Company Limited has applied for a licence to supply power in regions currently managed by state-run electricity supply companies (Escoms). The proposal has triggered opposition from employee unions, which have warned of protests if the application receives approval. The company has approached the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) seeking permission to operate in multiple districts presently covered by government utilities under four Escoms. As per the notice, Tata Power plans to distribute electricity across 15 districts in Karnataka. The proposed coverage includes Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Ramanagara, Tumakuru and Chitradurga under BESCOM; Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Hassan under CESCOM; Belagavi, Uttara Kannada and Dharwad under HESCOM; and …

BRS demands withdrawal of 'Rythu DISCOM' proposal, alleges bid to end ... The BRS opposed the Telangana government’s proposal for a separate Rythu DISCOM during an ERC public hearing, alleging it could weaken the existing free power supply system for farmers. Party leaders and farmers’ groups also raised concerns over possible privatisation and reduced rural services Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Friday strongly opposed the Congress government’s proposal to establish a separate “Rythu DISCOM” for agricultural power supply. The party leaders termed the move an attempt to dismantle the existing 24-hour free electricity scheme for farmers and pave the way for privatisation of the power sector. Former Ministers G Jagadish Reddy and S Niranjan Reddy, along with party leaders and representatives of farmers’ associations, presented their objections during the public hearing conducted by the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC). They urged the Commission to reject the proposal for the new DISCOM and appealed that such crucial decisions should not be taken without field-level consultations with farmers. Arguing before the ERC, Jagadish Reddy said the BRS go…

AIPEF urges Karnataka CM to reject parallel licensing to Tata Power AIPEF urges Karnataka CM to reject parallel licensing to Tata Power The News Gateway Bureau Updated At: 05.31 PM IST | May 27, 2026 Listen to this article Chandigarh, May 27 The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has strongly urged the Chief Minister of Karnataka not to grant a parallel power distribution licence to Tata Power Company Ltd., warning that such a move poses a serious threat to public electricity infrastructure, consumer welfare, and the financial viability of state-owned ESCOMs. AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey has written to the Chief Minister seeking urgent intervention against five parallel distribution licence applications filed by Tata Power before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). These applications cover 19 districts across all five state ESCOMs. According to AIPEF, the applications are legally unsustainable as the Sixth Proviso to Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003 permits parallel distribution licences only if the applicant establishes and operates its own independent distribution network. Tata Power, however, has not disclosed any credible, funded, or tec…

Karnataka tells power supply companies to oppose private players' entry Even as the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has yet to decide on Tata Power’s licence application, the Cabinet on Thursday advised all electricity supply companies (Escoms) to formally oppose the entry of private players in the state’s power distribution sector. The decision comes in the wake of the Federation of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Employees’ Unions and Associations raising concern over privatisation. Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the KERC would hold a meeting on Friday to decide on Tata Power’s application for a licence to distribute electricity in the state. “All Escoms have been told to file objections (with the KERC) saying that the government will not agree (to the privatisation of power supply),” Shivakumar said. “During the previous BJP rule, an opportunity was provided for them to apply for a licence.” The Cabinet also extended until August 15 the exemption for residential buildings from obtaining occupancy certificates (OC) before getting power connections. In June, the government announced a one-time ex…

AIPEF Opposes Power Sector Privatization Moves, Backs OPS ... - Dailyhunt B ENGALURU: The Federal Executive of the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) on Thursday adopted a series of resolutions expressing serious concern over policy initiatives aimed at privatization and fragmentation of the public electricity sector, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting public ownership, consumer interests and the rights of power sector employees and engineers. Advertisement The meeting, attended by delegates from 21 states, was held in Bengaluru under the chairmanship of Shailendra Dubey. Sachin Tickoo, President of JKEEGA and Vice Chairman of AIPEF, participated in the meeting along with representatives from across the country. The Federation strongly opposed the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and demanded its immediate withdrawal, alleging that the legislation is designed to facilitate privatization of electricity distribution through multiple licensees operating in the same area. AIPEF maintained that the Bill would encourage cherry-picking of profitable consumers, weaken public distribution companies (DISCOMs), undermine the cross-subsidy framework, increase …

Karnataka escoms oppose Tata Power bid for distribution licence BENGALURU: The Electricity Supply Companies (escoms), including the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom), on Tuesday filed independent objections before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) against Tata Power. Tata Power had applied for a private distribution licence in some districts falling under the jurisdiction of Bescom (Bengaluru), Hescom (Hubli-Dharwad), CESC (Mysuru) and Mescom (Mangaluru) on May 26. Since then, many resident welfare groups, electricity workers’ associations and farmers’ associations raised objections against the proposal on multiple platforms. This is the first time the Escoms are making public their apprehension. The escoms have submitted documents running into more than 75 pages before the KERC late on Tuesday evening. A Bescom official, who did not want to be named, said, “In the petition, we have highlighted that Tata Power has made no specification about a parallel distribution network, which is required as per the Electricity Act. Tata Power has mentioned that they will purchase power from the grid and open sources for supply. This will affect the c…