Chandigarh: Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a 25-year parallel electricity distribution licence to a private entity, Eleven Power Private Limited, for Gurugram and Nuh districts has ignited a political row. Opposition is slamming the decision as a “calculated assault” on the state’s public power sector and the interests of common citizens.The regulatory order introduces competitive parallel distribution under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, making Haryana one of the few states to adopt the model. Moving into a network deployment phased over five years with an investment plan of Rs 4,717 crore, Eleven Power will directly reach over 8.3 lakh electricity consumers—spanning households, commercial hubs, industries, and agricultural connections across Gurgaon City, Gurgaon sub-urban, Manesar, Sohna and Nuh.The move has drawn criticism from political functionaries and state power unions, who allege that the ruling Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP govt is pushing “backdoor privatisation” under the guise of consumer choice.Former minister Prof Sampat Singh warned that handing over Gurgaon — DHBVNL’s highest revenue generator with the lowest line losses — allows a private firm to skim the most profitable commercial and urban pockets.Senior Congress functionary Rao Narender Singh and party colleagues cautioned that abandoning lucrative industrial areas to a private entity will destroy the cross-subsidy system that keeps electricity affordable for farmers, rural consumers and economically weaker households. Public discoms will be left carrying the heavy burden of subsidised supply.The opposition questioned how a recently incorporated company with no demonstrated track record in distribution was awarded a 25-year monopoly over the state’s most profitable market, ignoring objections regarding net worth and capital adequacy.Despite the political storm, Eleven Power plans to deploy Rs 4,717 crore between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31, targeting operational power supply by FY 2027-28 with an 80% renewable power mix. HERC reaffirmed that existing discoms will continue regular operations, switching remains voluntary for consumers, and all tariffs will remain strictly under regulatory oversight.
