29th March 2025: On March 28, the Odisha government appointed former Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena as the new Chairperson of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). The appointment, effective from the day Jena assumes office, follows the vacancy created in November 2023 after the resignation of SC Mohapatra, who was appointed as Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister’s Office.
Jena, a 1989-batch IAS officer, previously served as the Secretary of the Energy Department for over six years and held the position of Chief Secretary from February 26, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Although he was set to retire in December 2023, he received a six-month extension due to the upcoming general and Assembly elections in the state.