Maldives Parliament Approves Expansion of Utility Regulatory Authority Board for Better Governance

The Maldivian Parliament has passed a bill to amend the Utility Regulatory Authority (URA) Act, increasing the number of board members to strengthen the agency's administrative governance and oversight. Submitted by Vilufushi Parliamentarian Hassan Waheed, the bill received broad support in the Majlis, passing with 61 votes in favor and six against. The legislation follows a review by the Environment and Climate Change Committee, which recommended the government's proposed changes for immediate adoption. The primary shift involves expanding the URA board from five members to seven, including the Chief Executive. While the Chief Executive joins the board, the law mandates that all other members must possess specific professional qualifications and expertise as outlined in the Act to ensure technical competency in utility regulation. Beyond the size of the board, the amendments introduce significant changes to tenure and voting. Under previous laws, members served a single five-year term. The new amendments allow members—excluding the Chief Executive—to be appointed for more than one term, provided they were not previously removed from the board for cause. To ensure a clear separation of powers, the amendment specifies that the Chief Executive will not have voting rights regarding board decisions. The bill also establishes clearer guidelines for determining the quorum required for official board meetings. Once the bill is ratified by the President, the government must appoint the additional board members within 30 days to finalize the expanded leadership structure. This move is expected to enhance the URA's capacity to regulate essential services across the archipelago as the nation's utility demands grow.