APEPDCL Employees Protest in Visakhapatnam, Warn of Statewide Stir on August 10

Contract, outsourcing, and regular employees of the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) held a protest at the corporate office in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. They demanded resolution of long-pending service issues and later submitted a memorandum to the Discom officials outlining their charter of demands.

Leaders of the protesting unions warned that if the management failed to hold talks and resolve the issues within two weeks, they would escalate the protest to a statewide demonstration in Vijayawada on August 10.

Charter of demands

The protesters listed 20 grievances, seeking intervention from the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) and the State government. The demands include immediate constitution of a Pay Revision Committee (PRC), regularisation of contract and outsourcing workers, and implementation of "equal pay for equal work" with a minimum wage of ₹48,000 for non-regular staff.

They also sought release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) in a single instalment and a cashless, unlimited health insurance policy. The unions demanded promotion of JLM Grade-II employees as Assistant Linemen and better career progression for Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) workers. They called for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) by shifting employees from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) to the General Provident Fund (GPF), and ₹10 lakh in gratuity for contract workers. Additionally, they raised issues of payment of risk and travel allowances for operations and maintenance (O&M) and field staff, and filling of vacant posts through seniority-based recruitment.

Union ultimatum

The employees stated that the management had not acted despite multiple representations to Superintending Engineers (SEs) and the government since June 11. "The management will be held solely responsible for the consequences if these issues remain unaddressed within the stipulated two-week window," said R.K.S.V. Kumar, honorary president of the United Electricity Contract Workers Union (UECWU-APEPDCL). Meter readers, bill collectors, and computer operators participated in the protest and opposed any move towards privatisation of the power sector.