HPSEB Employees Union Raises Alarm Over Financial Crisis, Smart Meters, and Pension Reforms
In a convention held at Mandi on Thursday, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) Employees Union voiced its deep concerns over the declining financial health of the electricity board, the shrinking workforce, and the need to reinstate the old pension scheme.
The gathering saw participation from board employees, pensioners, and public representatives, signaling the gravity of the situation. Union President K.D. Sharma, Board Pension Forum President E.A.S. Gupta, General Secretary Chandra Singh Mandal, along with Arun Kumar from the Power Engineers Association and former union president Kuldeep Kharwada, were among the key attendees. Representatives from Panchayat and Mahila Mandal also lent their voices to the discussion.
Addressing the attendees, Union President KD Sharma criticized the state’s ongoing implementation of smart meters, which is being done in collaboration with a private company. He stressed, “This smart metering initiative is not in the interest of consumers or the people of Himachal. It will lead to unnecessary expenses and, in turn, result in higher electricity bills for consumers.”
Sharma further cautioned that this move could pave the way for privatizing electricity distribution, which might trigger layoffs and reduce the workforce of the board, putting employees’ job security at risk.
General Secretary Heera Lal Verma expressed concern about the financial burden on consumers. “The board plans to replace all 26 lakh electronic meters across the state with smart meters, costing around Rs 3,100 crore. This amount will eventually be recovered from the public through increased electricity bills,” he said.
Verma also highlighted the critical financial crisis currently gripping the electricity board. “Due to this crisis, the financial benefits of employees and pensions are being delayed. For the past year, employees have not been paid for their earned leave upon retirement, and claims for overtime and travel allowances remain unsettled,” he explained.
The union leaders attributed this financial strain to the state government’s policy of providing free electricity to consumers, which has resulted in a subsidy burden of Rs 2,300 crore. They called the policy a key contributor to the board’s economic troubles.
In a fervent appeal, Verma urged the state government and the people of Himachal Pradesh to step up and protect the electricity board, a vital service sector for the region.
