Full Breakdown
Haryana Power Employees’ Strike Over Parallel Distribution Licence: Timeline, Impact and Government Response
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Around 40,000 electricity employees across Haryana launched a three-day strike on the night of October 21, 2026, to protest the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a 25-year parallel distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited for the Gurugram and Nuh districts. The strike halted routine fault repairs, causing outages in Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and other districts. It was called off on October 23 after the state government invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, directing HERC to review and cancel the licence.
Background & Context
On October 19, 2026, HERC issued an order under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, allowing Eleven Power to operate alongside the state-run distributors—Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN). The licence would let more than 8.3 lakh consumers in Gurugram and Nuh choose between the private operator and the existing discoms. Employees said the move amounted to “indirect privatisation” of a sector built on public investment and threatened cross-subsidy arrangements for farmers and low-income households.
Timeline
- October 19 – HERC grants Eleven Power the parallel licence.
- October 21, 2026 (10 pm) – Strike begins; employees shut down feeders and refuse routine repairs.
- October 22 – Power complaints surge; households lose electricity, water pumps and internet.
- October 23 – Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announces the use of Section 108; unions agree to end the strike.
- November 3 – Meeting between the government and union representatives to discuss remaining demands.
Data & Statistics
- 40,000 employees participated.
- 8.3 lakh consumers would be affected by the licence.
- State load fell from 8,255 MW to 4,772 MW on October 23, a drop of ? 3,000 MW.
- Complaint volumes: 3,000 reports in the first 12 hours, rising to over 5,500 in Gurugram.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini affirmed opposition to privatisation, pledged to challenge the HERC order before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), and confirmed the Section 108 direction.
- Energy Minister Anil Vij called the strike “unnecessary,” reiterated the legal challenge, and offered to discuss all options with union leaders.
- HERC is an autonomous regulator; the Section 108 direction obliges it to consider the state’s policy but does not automatically overturn its order.
Criticism & Opposition
Union leaders and farmer organisations argued the parallel licence would erode DHBVN’s financial base, raise tariffs and jeopardise employment. Subhash Lamba, national president of the Electricity Employees Federation of India, warned that granting the licence “opens the door for privatisation” and could shift profits to private hands.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of complaints recorded during the first day: The Hindu cites 5,500 to DHBVN, Moneycontrol reports 3,000 statewide, and the Indian Express notes over 3,000 in Gurugram. Estimates of industrial losses also vary, ranging from “crores of rupees” to “INR20,000 crore” for the district.
What’s Next
The state will file a review petition under Section 94 of the Electricity Act and seek a stay on the HERC order at APTEL. The November 3 meeting will address unions’ remaining demands, including broader assurances on power-sector privatisation.