The five new companies that took over from Bihar State Electricity Board started functioning from Thursday but not without confusion among officials about roles, logistics and service conditions.

Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd, Bihar State Power Transmission Company Ltd, Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd formally took charge from the outgoing board for carrying out generation, transmission and distribution work. Though the first day was usual for many officers who functioned like any other day, some officials of Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) and Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd were caught unawares of the transfer scheme, under which assets, liabilities and human resources had been distributed among the five firms.

They feigned ignorance about their designated roles and means to get logistics and infrastructure support for the new companies.

“There was not much difference between yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) at Pesu. Yes, there were some transitional problems. The scene is a bit vague and that is happening because we have not got any letter (explaining details) from the parent company (Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd) so far,” a senior Pesu official told The Telegraph.

The officers and the employees were by and large satisfied because the notification towards the reform had said the terms and conditions of the BSEB employees would not be altered. “We have heard about the notification that says there would not be any change in terms and conditions of the employees. But we are yet to see it,” an officer said.

A senior official of the holding company, too, admitted that there were some teething problems, as things were not clear for the middle- and junior-level officers in the five firms. These officials wanted to know the change of name of the company, logistics and infrastructure support and their roles among other features.

The parent company’s director, V.C. Gupta, told The Telegraph: “We would continue to function, as it has been going on in the past. There will not be any adverse impact because of the change in guard.”

On the confusion prevailing among officers of the new power firms, Gupta said: “We have already issued letters to some companies and key officials. These companies, in turn, would inform their officers and employees about their role in the firm.”

The energy department had in April this year issued a notification appointing managing directors (MDs) and shareholders of all the five companies. This was done to get the five companies registered according to the Companies Act, 1956.

Last week, the state cabinet approved the transfer and distribution of assets, liabilities and human resource of Bihar State Electricity Board to the five companies.The state would spend around Rs 14,099 crore in the next five years on the financial restructuring plan