Electricity, a ‘public good’, must not be vulnerable to ‘undue political posturing’, says Supreme Court

Supreme Court has expressed a lack of confidence on whether Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) are living up to the independence and autonomy afforded to them under the law.

The Supreme Court has expressed a lack of confidence on whether Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) are living up to the independence and autonomy afforded to them under the law. ERCs have the exclusive authority of tariff determination, play a pivotal role in the promotion of competition, and in ensuring reliable power supply across the country.The court said electricity is a “public good” and a “material resource”, and is especially vulnerable to “undue political posturing”. The ERCs were meant to serve as a bastion under the Electricity Act of 2003 to ensure that electricity was sold and distributed for the common good, unruffled by the politics of the day, and uninfluenced by the market forces of demand and supply. Published - August 09, 2025 05:30 pm IST