HERC Member Mukesh Garg states – “Only petitions filed under the Electricity Act, 2003 can be acted upon”
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
A delegation of prominent industrialists from Gurugram and Faridabad, associated with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), met with Mukesh Garg, Member (Law) of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), at the Commission's office in Panchkula on Friday to discuss concerns related to the recently revised industrial electricity tariffs in Haryana.
The representatives submitted that Haryana’s industrial electricity tariff should be brought in line with those of neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan to ensure the state's industrial competitiveness and attract fresh investments. In support of their submission, the delegation also presented a comparative study report highlighting how industries in neighbouring states benefit from lower electricity tariffs.
Responding to the concerns, HERC Member (Law) clarified that the Commission is a quasi-judicial body which can only act upon properly filed petitions under the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003. He stated that if any consumer has objections related to the Fuel Surcharge Adjustment (FSA) or the tariff structure, they are required to file a formal petition before the Commission, upon which an appropriate decision can be made.
He further informed that the Commission is presently hearing a review petition filed by the Yamunanagar-Jagadhri Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Laghu Udyog Bharati. He also shared that prior to issuing the tariff order for the financial year 2025-26 on March 28, the Commission had conducted a public hearing in which all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present their views.
Garg assured that both he and the Commission’s Chairperson, Nand Lal Sharma, are fully committed to ensuring strict adherence to the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 and that the interests of consumers remain paramount at all times.
Present during the meeting were PHDCCI Haryana Chapter Co-Chair Pranav Gupta, senior industrialist M.K. Gupta, IMT Industrial Association Faridabad President Pramod Rana, along with several other representatives. The delegation also submitted a formal memorandum requesting a review and possible revision of the electricity tariff.
The meeting concluded with the symbolic gesture of gifting a plant to the Commission, reflecting the delegates’ collective commitment to environmental conservation, balance, and sustainable development.