Private firm takes over Chandigarh power supply

Despite back-to-back protests by employees, the determination to privatise the section remained unchanged. On Friday, a Share Purchase Agreement was executed betwixt the Chandigarh administration, Eminent Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL), and Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL).

The energy section has present been taken implicit by RP-Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group. EEDL paid a full information of Rs 871 crore—significantly higher than the reserve terms of Rs 174 crore.

On Friday, the steadfast announced the acquisition of the powerfulness organisation and retail proviso concern of the Electricity Wing of the Engineering Department, Chandigarh (EWEDC), effectual immediately.

The privatisation determination follows clearances from the Punjab and Haryana High Court successful November 2024 and the Supreme Court’s last support successful December 2024.

With the takeover, assets, liabilities, powerfulness acquisition contracts, and unit from the erstwhile entity person been transferred to CPDL, arsenic per the transportation strategy notified by the UT administration. Employee work presumption volition stay unchanged, and a Pension Trust has been established for their benefit.

Speaking connected the takeover, P. R. Kumar, President (Power Distribution) of RPSG Group, said, “We are excited to service the radical of Chandigarh and bring the precocious standards of reliability and work that our radical is known for. We look guardant to improving lawsuit experience, infrastructure, and work delivery. With the summation of Chandigarh to our portfolio, we are poised to fortify our enactment successful the powerfulness organisation sector.”

What’s next

With this, Chandigarh joins the database of regions wherever powerfulness organisation has been privatised, pursuing akin implementations successful Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu successful April 2022.

As portion of the privatisation, the full powerfulness organisation and retail proviso concern of EWEDC has been transferred to Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL). CPDL is present afloat owned by EEDL, a subsidiary of CESC Limited, the flagship institution of RPSG Group.

What changes now?

• Consumer grievance redressal: CPDL volition found an precocious system, including a dedicated helpline and online ailment registration, to guarantee punctual solution of user issues.

• Infrastructure overhaul: The steadfast has announced important investments successful modernising the electrical infrastructure to supply 24×7, safe, and reliable power, promising an enhanced prime of service.

• Tariff regulation: The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) volition proceed to oversee user tariff determination to guarantee transparency and fairness successful pricing.

The steadfast has assured that “employee presumption of employment person been afloat protected, with nary little favourable conditions than earlier the transfer. Employees volition besides payment from vulnerability to state-of-the-art exertion and broad grooming programs to heighten their skills.”