Bhubaneswar: In a swift move to ensure continuity at the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), the state government has appointed Sudhansu Sekhar Barpanda as a member of the regulatory body, just days after its chairperson Pradeep Kumar Jena resigned.
According to an official notification issued on June 3, the Odisha government appointed Barpanda under Sub-section 5 of Section 82 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The appointment takes effect from the date he assumes office. The decision aims to keep the Commission functional following Jena’s abrupt exit.
The decision aims to keep the Commission functional following Jena’s abrupt exit.
Barpanda has worked with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise for over 22 years. He also served as Director (Market Operation) of Grid Controller of India Ltd. He did his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical from Veer Surendra Sai University Of Technology (VSSUT,Formerly UCE), Burla, according to his Linkedin profile.
Barpanda brings decades of expertise in power system operations to the OERC. He previously served as Director (Market Operations) at Grid Controller of India Ltd (formerly POSOCO), a key organisation under the Ministry of Power responsible for national grid management. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT, formerly UCE), Burla in Odisha.
Jena’s Resignation and Speculation
Retired IAS officer Pradeep Kumar Jena, who served as the state’s chief secretary, was appointed OERC chairperson on March 28, 2025, shortly after his retirement. He was permitted to relinquish charge effective from the afternoon of May 25, 2026, with the government citing “personal reasons.”
The resignation sparked speculation about underlying circumstances. Some observers and social media discussions have pointed to possible corporate lobbying or regulatory pressures during his brief 13-month tenure, though official statements have not confirmed these claims.
