Amendment proposed to increase Utility Regulatory Authority Board by two members

An amendment has been proposed to the Utility Regulatory Authority Act to increase the number of members on the authority's Board of Directors.

The bill was introduced and debated during Wednesday's People's Majlis session. Submitted on behalf of the government by Vilufushi MP Hassan Waheed, the amendment to the Utility Regulatory Authority Act aims to strengthen the authority's administrative governance and expand its operational scope.

Under the current law, the Board of the Utility Regulatory Authority is comprised of five members. The legislation further mandates that these members must possess specialized education and experience in specific technical fields.

The government's proposed amendment to the Act seeks to increase the number of board members to seven, including the Authority's Chief Executive Officer. Under this change, the bill mandates that all board members, with the exception of the Chief Executive, must possess the necessary professional qualifications and expertise.

The bill also proposes changes to the tenure of board members. Under the current law, members are appointed to the board for a single five-year term. However, the government's proposed amendment allows board members, with the exception of the Chief Executive, to be reappointed for more than one term. The bill further specifies that this eligibility for reappointment applies to all members, except for those who have been removed from office.

According to the proposed amendments to the board's administrative procedures, changes have been submitted to revise the legal framework governing meeting quorums and to strip the Chief Executive of voting rights regarding board decisions.