(1) The Forum shall consist of three Members including the Chairperson, who shall be persons of experience, ability, integrity and standing, and out of them –
(i) two Members shall be appointed by the distribution licensee out of its officers, who have more than one year service left for supernnuation and out of these two -
(a) one Member shall have degree in electrical engineering and have at least 25 years experience in generation, transmission, distribution or trading of electricity and who is not below the rank of a Chief Engineer or its equivalent; and
(b) one Member shall have degree in engineering or finance or commerce or economics or law or management and who is preferably not below the rank of a Superintending Engineer, or its equivalent, with working experience of at least 20 years in the organisation engaged in generation, transmission, distribution or trading in electricity;
(ii) one Independent Member shall be nominated by the Commission, out of the persons –
(a) who are retired officers of the State Government or of its Undertakings with a minimum 20 years service and are familiar with the consumer affairs or regulatory affairs; or Compendium of HPERC Regulations, March 2021 5
(b) who are representatives of the registered voluntary consumers protection organisations or NGOs or consumer activists with experience of at least five years in dealing with the matters concerning “consumer grievances”;
and such a Member shall be selected through advertisement in the newspapers and display on the website of the Commission:
Provided that a person to be nominated as Independent Member of the Forum shall not have been in the employment in any capacity under, or agency of, the licensee; for a minimum period of one year prior to his being nominated as the Independent Member of the Forum.
(2) No person shall be appointed and/or be entitled to continue as a Member if he-
(i) has been adjudged as an insolvent;
(ii) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the licensee, involves moral turpitude;
(iii) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such a Member;
(iv) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a Member;
(v) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to public interest; or
(vi) has been guilty of proven misbehaviour.
(3) The licensee shall immediately after the appointment of the Members (other than the Independent Member) but not later than seven days after the appointment, provide details to the Commission regarding qualifications and experience of the Chairperson or other Member, as the case may be.