The Commission was established via an act of the parliament- The Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005. Section 34 of the Act stipulates the Commission shall consist of seven Commissioners with five years single term tenure renewable for maximum of an additional tenure. The Commissioners were appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation.

The first Commission was inaugurated in October 2005. The Second Commission was inaugurated December 2010. There were two interregnums between the first and second and the third Commission when interim administrative arrangements were in place. The third board of Commissioners, was inaugurated on February 7, 2017. 

The present board of Commissioners include: -