Former IAS officer Subhash Chandra Lal Das has been appointed as the new chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), bringing an end to a more-than-year-long vacancy at the top of the capital’s power regulatory body.
According to a notification issued by the Delhi government’s Power Department on Wednesday, Das, a retired IAS officer of the 1992 AGMUT cadre, will take charge as chairperson of the DERC. His appointment marks a departure from the commission’s recent practice of appointing retired High Court judges to head the regulatory body.
The government has also appointed two members to the three-member commission. Ajay Kumar Jain, a retired district judge, has been appointed as Member (Legal), while Praveen Gupta, who serves as Member (Thermal) at the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has been appointed as Member (Non-Legal).
The appointments are significant for Delhi’s electricity sector, where several important regulatory matters have remained pending during the prolonged vacancy in the top post. The DERC plays a crucial role in determining electricity tariffs, overseeing the functioning of distribution companies and addressing issues related to the financial health of the power sector.
The official notification said the appointment of Das was made under the powers conferred by Section 45D of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, read with Section 84(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003.
The position of DERC chairman had remained vacant since July 2025, following the retirement of Justice Umesh Kumar, who was the last chairman of the three-member commission. The prolonged vacancy had raised concerns over the commission’s ability to undertake several critical regulatory functions, including the annual determination of electricity tariffs in Delhi.
The DERC is also expected to play an important role in dealing with the outstanding dues owed by the city’s three power distribution companies. According to officials, pending dues have accumulated to around Rs 38,500 crore, making the issue one of the key financial challenges facing Delhi’s power sector.
In May, a committee was constituted by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to oversee the selection process for the DERC chairperson and its two members. The process culminated in the latest appointments, filling all three positions of the commission.
Das’s appointment is particularly notable because he comes from an administrative background rather than the judiciary. Officials described the move as a clean break from the previous practice of appointing retired High Court judges to head the power regulator.
With the commission now expected to have a full leadership team, the focus is likely to shift towards clearing pending regulatory matters and strengthening oversight of Delhi’s electricity distribution sector. Key areas include tariff determination, resolution of outstanding financial claims, regulatory compliance by discoms and ensuring the continued reliability of electricity supply in the national capital.
The reconstituted commission will therefore have a significant role in shaping Delhi’s power-sector policy and regulatory framework at a time when the city is witnessing growing electricity demand, rising adoption of electric vehicles and increasing emphasis on renewable energy and grid modernisation.
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