The Lahore High Court has restrained National Electricity Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and electricity distribution companies from implementing variable tariff at peak hours and much higher rates on users of 5KWH or above to the extent of industrial units.
The court passed these orders in some identical petitions of 32 industrial units, challenging the increase in Tariff B-III made for industrial units. The LHC had already restrained the Nepra and electric distribution companies from implementing the increased tariff in respect of Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco), Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (Fesco), Gujranwala Electricity Power Company (Gepco) and Multan Electricity Power Company (Mepco).
The petitioners, Eastern Spinning Mills and others, have argued that the Nepra determined the tariff on February 23, 2007 and made industrial consumers to pay substantially higher rate of electricity. But despite enduring sufferings, they started making payment in the best national interest. However, just after 13 days of passing of tariff, the electric distribution companies like Lesco, Fesco, Gepco and Mepco filed a review petition before the 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 the petitioners or theirr parent association APTAMA. The petitioners argued that with acceptance of review petitions on January 10, 2008 the tariff was hugely enhanced to the greatest disadvantage clearly violating the principle "no one should be condemned unheard."