The Power Ministry implores states to quickly fill open positions on regulatory commissions

27 Feb 2023 , 08:07 AM

The Union Power Ministry has urged state governments to fill all open positions within a set period of time because it is concerned that numerous state energy regulatory commissions (SERCs) are operating without chairs and an adequate number of members.

In a recent letter to all Chief Secretaries, Power Secretary Alok Kumar noted the commissions’ inability to function effectively due to unfilled positions and urged them to replace those positions as soon as possible.

In order for the SERCs to work properly and ensure that consumers receive dependable and high-quality power, he wrote in his letter that the positions of chairpersons and members should be filled as soon as possible.

State governments were instructed by the ministry to recommend potential candidates to selection committees six months before their retirement or the expiration of their terms as chairpersons or members.

In view of the fact that there are numerous SERCs with little to no staff, the Electricity Ministry has issued a directive to states urging them to expedite the appointment of chairpersons and members.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), which is understaffed, is one example.

DERC is a three-person committee made up of a chairperson and two permanent members.

With significant G20 events planned for the capital city throughout the year, the DERC now only has one-member, technical A.K. Ambasht, in addition to its recently appointed Chairman Rajeev Shrivastava (whose nomination was authorized last month by the Delhi government).

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