Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta (IAS:1988:HP) has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) after his retirement on May 31.
Interestingly, it was four days before he was to retire from the Himachal CS post when Gupta’s name had been recommended by a three-member high-level selection committee, headed by Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha (IAS:1992:PB), on May 27. The recommendation was later approved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Gupta assumed charge on Wednesday (June 3) after state Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond administered him the oath of office. He succeeds former Punjab cadre bureaucrat Vishwajit Khanna, whose tenure ended on April 22.
Gupta’s appointment is for a five-year term or until he attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
It should be mentioned here that this is a crucial appointment as the PSERC is the statutory body regulating Punjab’s power sector. The body plays a key role in determining electricity tariffs, overseeing power distribution and transmission, approving power purchase agreements, and ensuring compliance with the Electricity Act, 2003.
Not only this, the commission also adjudicates disputes involving utilities and consumers. It also monitors the functioning of power companies operating in the state.
Grabbing this top post was not an easy sail for Gupta, as he had to contend with several senior Punjab bureaucrats and engineers for it. Among those in the fray were former Punjab bureaucrats A Venu Prasad, Anurag Aggarwal, and Special Chief Secretary Saravjit Singh.
Besides, PSERC member RS Saini, who has been holding additional charge since Khanna’s retirement, was also among the contenders for the post.
Further, Gupta’s appointment gains added significance as the Bhagwant Mann government had to face criticism from opposition parties over the appointment of people from outside the state to head the bodies, like the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board.
As Chairperson, Gupta’s immediate task will be to lead key reforms in the power sector, like the rationalisation of electricity tariffs, ensuring the timely disbursement of power subsidies, enhancing the integration of renewable energy sources into the state’s power grid, and improving the quality and reliability of electricity services for consumers across Punjab.
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