Electricity consumers’ association demands early appointment of chairman for TNERC

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers’ Association (TECA) has expressed concern over the delay in appointment of chairman for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC).

Association president Pradeep Natarajan said in a press release that the tenure of the previous chairman of the TNERC ended in August and the post has remained vacant for the last three months. Despite the State government initiating the selection process on July 16 this year and extending the deadline for the application twice, the chairman is yet to be appointed.

“This delay has created a critical leadership void in the Commission, impacting its ability to address pressing regulatory and legal matters that directly affect electricity consumers across the State,” said Mr. Natarajan.

The Selection Committee should act expeditiously and prioritise filling the vital position. It should exclude candidates from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), including pensioners, as such appointments may inadvertently lead to conflict of interest. Any prior association with the licensee can compromise the impartiality required for this crucial role.

The chairman should be an individual with demonstrated expertise in engineering, finance, commerce, economics, law, or management, preferably from the IAS cadre or retired High Court judges, he added.

Published - November 27, 2024 09:47 pm IST