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HC asks CERC to consider NTPC's plea on Tariff norms

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked power regulator CERC to consider and decide the representation of PSU NTPC against its new five-year tariff regulations which would come into effect from April 1. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul, however, did not allow the interim plea of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) that the regulations of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) be stayed.

Issuing the notice to CERC on the plea of NTPC, the bench asked the regulator to consider the representation of the power generator PSU against the tariff regulations and fixed the matter for further hearing on May 19. During the hearing, the counsel for NTPC said that the regulations were "unconstitutional" and violative of the Electricity Act.

"I am challenging the validity of the regulations as they are ultra vires of the Electricity Act. The CERC has acted in an arbitrary manner while fixing tariff norms for the next five years. These regulations will benefit discoms," he said.

Source-On Request