Arun Kumar Gupta sworn in as HERC chairman by Energy Minister Anil Vij

Chandigarh. Haryana’s power regulator has a full-time head again. Retired IAS officer Arun Kumar Gupta, who was Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini until September, took the oath as Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) on Tuesday.

Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij gave him the oath of office and secrecy at Haryana Niwas. After taking the oath, Gupta said he would do his job as chairman with full dedication, transparency and impartiality.

The post had been empty since July 23, when the then chairman, Nand Lal Sharma, died in office. The state government named Gupta to the post on November 6. He will hold office for five years from the day he took the oath, or until he turns 65, whichever comes first.

Who is Arun Kumar Gupta?

Gupta is a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre. He retired on September 30. Before that, he served as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and as Additional Chief Secretary, Finance.

He knows the power sector well. He has been Secretary of HERC and Managing Director of the state’s power utilities.

Why does the new HERC chairman matter now?

Gupta takes over at a difficult time for the commission. On October 19, HERC gave Eleven Power Private Limited a 25-year licence to supply electricity in Gurugram and Nuh, alongside the state-run Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN). It was the first licence of its kind in Haryana.

Power employees protested against the decision. On October 26, the state government told HERC not to put any parallel distribution licence into effect, and the commission said it would not go ahead while that order stands. Eleven Power has said it will take legal action. DHBVN and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) have asked HERC to review its October 19 order.

What does HERC do?

The commission sets electricity tariffs in Haryana. It also works to improve power supply, protect consumer rights and promote renewable energy. Its goal is a set of rules that helps the power sector grow in a balanced way and gives consumers reliable, good-quality electricity.

Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Sudhir Rajpal and HVPNL Managing Director C.G. Rajinikanthan attended the ceremony. Senior officers from the energy, finance, industries and public relations departments were also there, including A.K. Singh, Dr Amit Kumar Agrawal, Ashima Brar, Dr Aditya Dahiya and Vikram.