As stipulated in the EPIRA, members of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) are appointed by political authorities. This arrangement, however, has brought up issues of transparency and independence. The previous Plan (2004-2010) already contained a planned reassessment of the ERC's performance and processes, suggesting the creation of an independent search committee as a mechanism for ERC appointments. To date, no such assessment and evaluation of the ERC has been conducted. An independent monitor of the regulatory setup of the sector is necessary as part of a system of checks and balances, especially once the generation and transmission sectors are privatized.