The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to its staff service rules under the title “Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Service of Staff) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2025.”
The draft, published in the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh, seeks public comments and suggestions within 30 days from the date of publication. The complete draft text is available on the Commission’s official website, www.hperc.org.
📜 Background
The parent regulation — the HPERC (Terms and Conditions of Service of Staff) Regulations, 2013 — lays down the framework for the appointment, promotion, and service conditions of HPERC officers and employees.
The 2025 draft amendment is the fifth revision to the 2013 Regulations and is issued under:
- Sections 91(2) & 91(3) and clause (zk) of section 181(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003,
- Read with *Section 20 of the Himachal Pradesh General Clauses Act, 1968.
⚖️ Key Proposed Amendment
The amendment specifically modifies sub-clause (iii) of clause 2, Part-III, Schedule-II of the 2013 Regulations — relating to absorption of personnel on secondment in the Commission.
The new sub-clause proposes that:
“Applications of persons serving in the Commission on secondment basis may be considered for absorption only if:
- They have served for at least three years on secondment; and
- They have at least fifteen years of service left before superannuation on the date of application.”
A relaxation clause is also introduced:
“The Commission may, in the case of Electrical Engineers, relax the fifteen-year service condition by up to three years, provided reasons are recorded in writing.”
🧾 Purpose and Rationale
This amendment seeks to:
- Ensure that absorptions into permanent HPERC service are granted only to individuals with adequate tenure remaining to contribute meaningfully to the organization;
- Maintain continuity and institutional knowledge within the Commission;
- Offer limited flexibility for technical positions (particularly Electrical Engineers), recognizing the specialized expertise often required in regulatory functions.
🗓️ Public Consultation
- Objection/Suggestion Period: 30 days from the publication date – OCTOBER 14TH 2025.
- Submission Address:
Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission,
Vidyut Aayog Bhawan, Block-37, SDA Complex, Kasumpti, Shimla–171009. - Online Availability: https://www.hperc.org
🧠 About HPERC
The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) is the statutory authority established under the Electricity Act, 2003, responsible for:
- Regulating electricity tariffs and licenses in the state;
- Promoting efficiency and transparency in the electricity sector; and
- Overseeing administrative and staffing matters for its functioning.
🏁 In Summary
The HPERC (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2025 propose an important update to the internal human resource policy of the Commission, particularly affecting staff members serving on secondment from other departments. Once finalized, these changes will strengthen transparency, merit-based absorption, and tenure balance in HPERC’s staffing structure.