Power engineers’ body AIPEF vows anti-privatisation fight

The All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF) has vowed to resist moves towards power privatisation and protect public-sector utilities. On the Federation's 54th Foundation Day on Sunday, August 16, chairman Shailendra Dubey and secretary-general P. Ratnakar Rao urged engineers to oppose attempts to weaken the public character of the power infrastructure, arguing that India needs consumer-centric reforms tailored to local realities, not privatisation of public assets under the guise of reform.

AIPEF leaders argued that India's transmission and distribution infrastructure, developed over decades through public investment, government funding and consumer contributions, should be regarded as a national asset rather than a vehicle for private profit. They cautioned that permitting private companies to serve only high-revenue industrial and commercial consumers could leave public-sector DISCOMs responsible for less profitable segments such as agriculture, rural households and subsidised users, undermining their financial sustainability over time.

The Federation also expressed concern over private control of renewable energy generation, stressing the need to strengthen state and Central utilities instead of transferring assets.