The Lahore High Court (LHC) has restrained National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and electric distribution companies from implementing the increased tariff regarding industrial consumers till September 15. The court passed these orders in some identical petitions filed by All Pakistan Textile Manufacturing Association (Aptma) and others.
The court further said that it had already passed the similar order in an earlier petition against Lesco so all these petitions would be heard jointly on the next hearing.
The petitioners through their counsel pleaded that Nepra determined the tariff on February 23, 2007 and made industrial consumers to pay substantially higher rate of electricity. But despite enduring sufferings and other members of Aptma started making payment in the best national interest. However, just after 13 days of passing of tariff, the electric supply companies like Lesco, Fesco, Gepco and Mepco filed a review petition before Nepra.
The petitioners said the Nepra did not have the review powers under the law but it proceeded with and accepted their review petitions without giving any notice to them or their parent association Aptma. The petitioners argued that with acceptance of review petitions on January 10,2008 the tariff was hugely enhanced to the greatest disadvantage clearing violating the principle "no one should be condemned unheard."
They pointed out that just one month after that increase, Nepra again made a decision on February 12, 2008 and further increased the electricity tariff while acting under self-regulated and automatic mechanism called biannual adjustment. They argued that Nepra had violated the court's order by making final determination of electricity tariff because LHC had granted stay in a similar case against Lesco.