Former Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Gupta has been chosen as the new chairperson of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission. He will assume charge today.Gupta, who superannuated from service on May 31, was amongst the 26 applicants including several retired bureaucrats, who had applied for the post of state’s power regulator. The meeting for selection of the chairperson was held on May 27 by a three-member committee headed by Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha. The committee shortlisted candidates and sent its report to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who took the final call on the appointment.Gupta succeeds former Punjab-based bureaucrat Vishwajit Khanna as the PSERC chairperson. Khanna had completed his term in April. During the interim period, Ravinder Saini, member of PSERC, was officiating as chairperson. Officials in the Punjab Government say that he brings with him extensive experience in public administration and energy sector management.In his new role as Punjab’s power regulator, Gupta faces challenges in tariff rationalisation, ensuring that the power subsidy is released on time, renewable energy integration and improvement in electricity service for consumers.