Diversified business conglomerate Eleven Group, chaired by Sunil Sachdeva, co-founder of Medanta, has announced plans to invest over ₹4,700 crore in a renewable energy-led electricity distribution network across Gurugram and Nuh districts of Haryana.
The proposed investment is among the largest private sector commitments in the state’s power distribution sector. The project aims to deliver reliable, uninterrupted electricity while reducing dependence on diesel generator backup through the use of renewable energy.
The first phase of the project will include Nuh, one of Haryana’s least-served districts. According to the company, funding for this phase has already been secured, with the required equity infused and the debt financing arrangements in place.
To implement the project, Eleven Power Private Limited has applied to the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) for a parallel electricity distribution licence. If approved, consumers in the project area will have the option to choose between Eleven Power and the existing state-owned utility, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN).
Under the parallel distribution model, the existing utility will continue to own and operate its network, while only those consumers opting for Eleven Power’s services will shift to the new distribution company. The model is intended to introduce competition in electricity distribution and provide consumers with greater choice.
The proposal has, however, drawn objections from state-owned distribution companies and some political parties. Concerns have been raised regarding the company’s financial capability and the potential impact of consumer migration on the revenues of public sector distribution utilities.
To examine the application, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission has constituted a three-member independent expert committee. The panel commenced its review on July 13 and is expected to submit its report within 15 days.
The outcome of the regulatory review will determine whether Haryana moves ahead with one of India’s largest privately funded parallel electricity distribution initiatives
