Radhakrishnan, a former senior electricity-sector administrator, has been appointed chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, along with two new members, filling three positions that had remained vacant after a prolonged selection process.
The appointments cover the chairperson’s post, a regular member’s position and the legal member’s position. Maskarnes, a former director of the state’s electricity distribution utility, has been appointed as a member, while retired district judge Muthu Saradha has been appointed legal member, according to a report by Dinamalar.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission is responsible for determining electricity tariffs and monitoring the functioning of the state electricity board and related utilities. The commission also has powers similar to those of a court and is structured to function with a chairperson and two members.
The appointments come after all three positions became vacant at different times. The two members had retired, leaving the legal member’s post vacant from March and the other member’s position vacant from June. Manivannan, who had been serving as chairperson, resigned at the end of June after the change in government in May, the report said.
To select replacements, the Tamil Nadu government constituted a committee in July under the chairmanship of retired judge Theeka Raman. The committee also included the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and the chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. It invited applications from eligible candidates for all three posts.
The selection committee met at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat on the evening of September 15. Following the meeting, the government appointed Radhakrishnan as chairperson, Maskarnes as member and Muthu Saradha as legal member.
Radhakrishnan has previously served as chairman of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, while Maskarnes has held a senior role in the state’s electricity distribution utility. Muthu Saradha brings judicial experience as a retired district judge.
The commission’s functioning is significant for electricity consumers, utilities and the state government because its decisions cover tariff regulation and oversight of the electricity sector. With the three appointments, the regulator is expected to operate with its full leadership and membership structure after the vacancies disrupted its composition.
The appointments followed the selection committee’s September 15 meeting and complete the process initiated by the state government in July.
