Kathmandu: The government has reappointed Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital as the Chairperson of the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC). The decision was made during the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
Dr. Dhital is scheduled to take the oath of office and formally assume his duties on Thursday.
The government had previously removed Dr. Dhital from the position after changing the leadership of the Electricity Regulatory Commission through an ordinance. With the latest Cabinet decision, he has been reinstated as Chairperson, allowing the Commission to continue its regulatory responsibilities under its former leadership.
Dr. Dhital was initially appointed as Chairperson of the Electricity Regulatory Commission through an open competitive selection process on June 20, 2024. He was also the first person to be selected as a Commission member through open competition after the regulator was established.
During his previous tenure, several key institutional foundations of the Commission were established. Under his leadership, the ERC recruited its first permanent staff and developed a regular administrative structure. The Commission also finalized its Administrative Regulations, Financial Regulations, Procurement Regulations, and internal procedures governing its decision-making process.
An experienced energy expert, Dr. Dhital previously served as the Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC). He has nearly three decades of experience in hydropower, solar energy, rural electrification, and renewable energy projects in Nepal and abroad. He has also worked as an energy specialist on various projects supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Academically, Dr. Dhital earned a master’s degree in renewable energy from Germany and a PhD in Renewable Energy from Tribhuvan University.
With his reappointment, the Electricity Regulatory Commission regains an experienced leader. His return is expected to strengthen electricity market reforms, enhance regulatory stability, advance open access to the power sector, facilitate electricity trade, and support more effective regulatory decision-making across Nepal’s energy sector.
Jalasarokar
