State electricity ministers from across the country and Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal will discuss a series of issues facing the power sector as well as the proposed controversial amendments to the Electricity Act at a two-day conference beginning here on Friday. The meeting is considered significant as it will test the waters on the amendments which are resented by many States and opposed by most unions in the power sector, particularly those in the State electricity boards. The Modi Government is expected to get the amendments passed in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. The meeting will discuss issues related to power generation, distribution and transmission; coal production and supply; promotion of renewable energy and energy conservation, apart from reforms in the power sector.The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers plans to take a march to the meeting venue to protest against amendments and other reforms which they allege are aimed to favour major private companies. The reforms are feared to facilitate distribution of power by private companies using the existing power lines owned by the State electricity boards. The reforms would push the boards into deep red and later lead to their abolition altogether, the unions fear.

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