(a) whether the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has been non-functional for the last several months;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the remedial steps taken by the Government for early disposal of thousands of pending petitions with the commission?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
( SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) to (c) : In compliance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order dated 28.8.2020 in the Contempt Petition No. 429 of 2020 (K. K. Agarwal V/s Sanjiv Nandan Sahai & Anr), two Members of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) proceeded on leave. No adjudication matters were heard and no regulations were framed/amended during the period of their leave.
Member (Law) has been appointed by the Central Government on 16.12.2020. In view of the completion of the appointment process of the Member (Law) in CERC, the Hon''ble Supreme Court vide Order dated 20.1.2021 has allowed the other Members of CERC to join and carry on their administrative functions but the judicial functioning will be restored on the joining of the Member (Law). Vide this order the contempt has been discharged. The Central Commission has complied with the said Order dated 20.1.2021 and thus administrative functioning has been resumed w.e.f 21.1.2021.
Further, Ministry of Power has also requested Government of Jharkhand to relieve concerned Member (Legal), Jharkhand Electricity Regulatory Commission to enable him to join as Member (Law) in CERC.
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