Parliament passed with its first reading on May 30 and with second reading on May 31 a legislative amendment that will shift the right of appointing chairman and members of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission from President to Prime Minister.

According to the Energy Ministry-proposed bill the Prime Minister, instead of the President, will have the right to appoint members of the five-seat energy regulatory commission for a six-year term.

The commission’s chairmanship is currently held by Guram Chalagashvili, whose term in office expires this summer as he was appointed on the post for a six-year term in August, 2007.