TNERC Chairman R Manivannan Resigns in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) chairman, R Manivannan, resigned from his position on Friday in Chennai. His resignation leaves the state's power regulatory body completely vacant, as the other two member posts of the commission were already unoccupied.

Following the chairman's departure, the state government is expected to form a search committee soon to invite applications and fill the vacancies in the commission's coram.

Manivannan took charge as the TNERC chairman in January 2025, following his retirement from the TNPDCL, where he served as the distribution director. Under state regulations, he was eligible to serve as the chairman of the regulatory commission for a term of up to three years. The reason behind his sudden decision to resign has not been made public.

Shortly after the chairman stepped down, TNERC Director of Engineering John Sundararaj also followed suit and tendered his resignation on Friday.

As a quasi-judicial body, TNERC plays a vital role in managing the state's power sector. The commission is responsible for resolving electricity-related disputes between distribution companies and business consumers. It also approves and ratifies various electricity-related projects, expenditures, and power purchases across Tamil Nadu.

The three-member quorum, which consists of the chairman and two members, is also responsible for deciding electricity tariffs. Additionally, the body holds stakeholder meetings in accordance with the Electricity Act to make decisions on key power sector issues.

Manivannan's resignation comes amid a series of high-profile departures from key positions in the state administration. His exit occurred just a day after retired IPS officers Shankar Jiwal and Sunil Kumar stepped down from their roles as the chairmen of the Tamil Nadu Fire Service Commission and the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, respectively.