Bhubaneswar: The State Government finally initiated the process for appointment of Chairperson of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).
The Department of Energy today issued an advertisement inviting applications from eligible personalities to head the quasi-judicial body.
As per the notification, the Chairperson of the Commission will be a person of ability, integrity and standing who has adequate knowledge of and has shown capacity in dealing with problems relating to engineering, finance, commerce, economics, law or management.
The Chairperson cannot hold any other office. He/she will hold office for 5 years from the date he/she assumes charge or till he/she attains the age of 65 years whichever is earlier.
The Chairperson would receive a pay of Rs 2.25 lakh per month. In addition he/she is further entitled to DA and other allowances as admissible to the Chairperson of the Commission horn from time to time.
OERC was set to regulate power tariff and promote competition, efficiency and economy in the power sector. However, the Commission has been functioning without a Chairperson since November 2023 after appointment of the then Chairman Suresh Chandra Mohapatra as the Chief Advisor to the then CM Naveen Patnaik.
The Commission is now running with two Members, Gajendra Mohapatra and Sushanta Kumar Ray Mohapatra.
Usually, a retired senior All India Service(AIS) Officer is appointed to head the Commission, which is an important body that looks after electricity related issues in the entire State.
Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, formerly of the Indian Administrative Service, joined the OERC as Chairperson on 1 March, 2023 after retiring from the post of Chief Secretary which he held from 1 January, 2021 to 28 February, 2023.
Prior to him, Uprendra Nath Behera, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service of 1983 batch of Odisha cadre, was the Chairperson of the Commission from 16 January, 2017 to 5 January, 2022.
Satya Prakash Nanda, a retired IAS Officer was heading the body from 13 October, 2011 to 12 October, 2016 while former IAS Officer Bijoy Kumar Das was on the seat from 20 November, 2006 to 23 September 2011 and D C Sahoo, formerly of the Indian Audit & Accounts Service, was heading the OERC during 2001 to 2006.
Educated at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, SC Mahalik was the Chairman of OERC from June 1997 to March 2000. After his retirement, D.K. Roy, a former AIS Officer, was the Chairman for some months.