1.0 The Electricity Act, 2003 has significantly enlarged the spectrum of responsibility of CERC. Under the ERC Act, 1998 only the tariff fixation powers were vested in CERC. The new law of 2003 has entrusted on the CERC with several other responsibilities in addition to the tariff fixation powers, for instance, the powers to grant licence for inter-state transmission, inter-state trading and consequently to amend, suspend, and revoke the license, the powers to regulate the licensees by setting performance standards and ensuring their compliance, etc.
1.1 Following are the statutory functions of CERC:
(a) To regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central
Government; to regulate the tariff of generating companies other than those owned
or controlled by the Central Government specified in clause (a), if such generating
companies enter into or otherwise have a composite scheme for generation and
sale of electricity in more than one State;
(b) To regulate the inter-State transmission of electricity
(C) To determine tariff for inter-state transmission of electricity;
(d) To issue transmission licenses and trading licenses with respect to inter-state operations;
(e) To adjudicate upon disputes involving generating companies or transmission licensees in regard to matters connected with clauses (a) to (d) above and to refer any dispute for arbitration;
(f) To levy fees for the purposes of this Act;
(g) To specify Grid Code having regard to Grid Standards;
(h) To specify and enforce the standards with respect to quality, continuity and reliability of service by licensees;
(i) To fix the trading margin in the inter-State trading of electricity, if considered, necessary;
(j) To discharge such other functions as may be assigned under this Act.
1.2 The Act has also given advisory role to CERC. It has been mandated to advise the Central Government on the matters relating to formulation of National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy, promotion of competition, efficiency and economy in activities of the electricity industry, and promotion of investment in electricity industry.
1.3 Power sector is evolving in India and the present policy approach mainly aims at moving from cost plus tariff to competitive bidding basis tariff, appropriate regulatory framework for mobilizing investments, and developing electricity markets. However, the
cost-plus tariff will continue to be important as the assets covered by this regime are of large value.
1.4 Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has, therefore, felt the need to engage Senior Research Officer and Research Officer in accordance with the CERC (Appointment of Consultants) (Amendment) Regulation, 2010 as amended from time to time. The Senior Research Officer and Research Officer proposed to be engaged by the Commission would assist and augment the work of Finance Wing of the Commission in discharge of its multifarious functions.
2 Scope of work for the Staff Consultant
The duties of the Staff Consultant shall be as under:
a. Technical scrutiny of tariff petition filed by CPSUs/ companies as regards financial and related parameters for its admissibility in time bound manner in line with requirement/s as laid down in regulations framed (as amended from time to time).
b. Freezing of Capital cost, admissible expenditure after analyzing claims taking into consideration comments of beneficiaries and analyzing books of accounts, loan documents/data and other related information as furnished or as required by/from the
CPSU on the basis of regulations framed (as amended from time to time).
c. Calculating tariff based on such frozen capital cost, additional expenditure etc. as per regulations & providing input for draft orders.
d. Carrying out cost benefit analysis in case of Renovation and modernization claims made by CPSU based on regulations and information supplied by the generator/transmission utility as the case may be.
e. To carry out financial analysis/ studies as well as financial modeling as and when required .
f Providing inputs on financial aspects for framing of various regulation / amendments.
g. Scrutinizing applications & providing input for inter-state transmission licensee /UMPP and adoption of tariff in case of inter-state transmission licensee / UMPP.
h. Scrutinizing applications & providing input for trading licensee.
i. Providing financial opinion/ substantive financial advice on issues coming before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (ATE), High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC). Assisting in framing of replies in this regard.
j. Loan reconciliation of generating/transmission companies (tariff of which is decided by the Commission) based on information in balance sheets and other additional information as submitted/called for by/from the companies.
k. Balance sheet analysis of each financial year during (2009-14). Comparison of accounting data & reconciliation deviation analysis with reasons
I. Matter related with generic tariff for various sources of renewable energy and financial issues
m. Other related misc. work
4. General Terms and Conditions: -
4.1 Normal working hours would be 9.30 A.M to 6.00 P.M (05 days week) including half an hour lunch break. The personnel may be called on Saturdays/ Sundays and other gazetted holidays, and required to be present beyond normal working hours in case of exlgencles.
4.2 in addition to holidays notified by Central Government, the Staff Consultant shall be entitled for fifteen (15) days leave in a calendar year (January to December) which shall be credited in advance, on quarterly basis, as under. The intervening Saturdays/
Sundays/holidays, if any, shall not be counted as leave. Unutilised leave shall not be carried fOIward to the next calendar year and is not encashable. Leave of any other nature is not admissible
(a) 1 st Quarter: (January to March) – 04 days
(b) 2nd Quarter: (April to June) – 04 days
(C) 3rd Quarter: (July to September) – 04 days
(d) 4th Quarter: (October to December) – 03 days
4.3 The Staff Consultant shall not be entitled to any professional fees for the period of absence beyond the entitled leave of 15 days as above. Any availed leave during a calendar year shall not be carried forward to the next calendar year or qualify for
encashment.
4.4 in case the Staff Consultant remain absent for more than 15 days beyond the entitled leave in a calendar year, without any prior intimation/prior sanction, except in case of emergency, CERC would be free to terminate the services of the said Staff Consultant.
4.5 in the event of absence on the ground of sickness, the Staff Consultant shall be required to submit a proper medical and fitness certificate. However, any leave including the leave on medical grounds beyond the cumulative period of 15 days shall be without any profession fees.
4.6 in case of tour within India, the Commission shall reimburse the expenses for journey undertaken for official work by the Consultants as per the following entitlement: -
a. By air - Economy class
b. By train - AC II tier
c. For local travel - Non AC taxi .
5. Age Limits: The age of the applicant as on 01st January of the year of advertisement would be in accordance to CERC (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations, 2008 and amendments thereafter.
6. Duration of Contract: The Staff Consultant shall now be engaged for the period of two years. However, the period of engagement may be extended, based on the satisfactory performance of the candidate, for the period upto one year on each occasion,
whereas it is limited to total period of four years at the maximum. In deserving cases, an escalation up to 10% on the fee may be given with the approval of the Chairperson based on the performance during the preceding year.
6.1 The Staff consultants shall be entitled to performance-related variable pay of up to 40% of the Monthly fee, which will be admissible on achieving the prespecified annual targets by the Commission for organisation, division or team and individual and released on a quarterly or six-monthly basis as per the procedure issued by the Commission.
7. Payment Terms: The consultant shall be paid lump sum monthly professional fees on completion of the month. TDS shall be deducted as per relevant rules.
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
With Notice
8.0 This agreement is liable to be terminated by either parties, by mutual consent, by giving one month notice in writing or one month’s consolidated professional fees in lieu of such notice. In case, any consultant chooses to leave CERC within one year, they have to serve three months’ notice in writing or three months’ notice in writing or three month’s consolidated professional fees in lieu of such notice.
8.1 in case the Staff Consultant is unable to perform the assigned work or the work undertaken by them is not to the satisfaction of the Controlling Officer/Competent authority in CERC, the Staff Consultant shall be liable to be terminated after one month notice in writing .
Without Notice
8.2 in case the Staff Consultant, despite notice as in para 8 above, is unable to perform the given assignment to the satisfaction of the Controlling officer/Competent authority in CERC, consultant, shall be liable to be terminated in public interest, without
any notice and without assigning any reason.
8.3 in case the Staff Consultant is absent from duty, for a period of more than 30 days, without prior intimation/prior sanction and is not covered under medical emergency consultant, shall be liable to be terminated, in public interest, without any notice and
without assigning any reason.
8.4 On pre-mature termination of the assignment, CERC shall pay the Staff Consultant, the professional fees for the work performed by him/her till the date of such termination, after deductions, if any.
9. Engagement under this assignment shall be on purely contract basis for a limited period only. Such engagement shall not vest any right what so ever to claim for regular appointment or continued contractual engagement in CERC.
10. Relaxation in essential qualifications/experience can be considered in deserving cases
11. CERC reserves the right not to fill up all or any of the above positions, without assigning any reasons, what so ever.
12. CERC reserves the right either to increase or decrease the number of posts in any of the categories, at any given time, without assigning any reasons, what so ever.
13. Selection Process:
a. The selection process is through interaction. However, written examination shall be conducted, if required, based on the decision of the Consultancy Evaluation Committee (CEC);
b. Only candidates who strictly fulfil the eligibility criteria will be shortlisted and called for the written examination
C. Only the candidates who qualify in the written examination will be called for interaction and presentation.
d. The final selection of the candidates shall be based on the ranking/merit of combined score of the qualification, experience, written examination and interaction;
e. Candidates called for interaction would be required to bring original documents relating to qualification, experience and salary slip for the past six months. These documents shall be examined before interaction with the selection committee;
f. In case of non-submission of the salary slip for the past six months, the candidate will be considered for selection at the minimum range of the scale;
g. Candidates may apply for one or more posts as per their eligibility. However, no TA/DA shall be admissible for attending written examination and interaction for each advertised post at New Delhi;
h. The decision of CERC shall be final
14. Interested and eligible candidates may apply online through CERC’s official website https://vacancy.cercind.gov.in/cerc/public. The applicants are also requested to submit a hard copy of the application in the prescribed proforma, given in Annexure-1 , to the Dy. Chief (Admin.), 8th Floor, Tower-B, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi 110029 by 2781 December, 2025 by 5.00 PM. Incomplete applications or applications received after the due date will be rejected.
Note: Those candidates who wish to apply for more than one vacancy need to fill separate application forms for each post.