960421

LHC stays power

bills recovery

from 3 mills

RIZWAN-UR-REHMAN RAZI

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has stayed the recovery of 50 percent of electricity consumption bills from three textile mills under the changed method of charges of supply and has directed the Area Electricity Board of Wapda to file para-wise comments in this regard on May 5.

These orders were passed by the Court on three different petitions filed by three textile mills including Zahur Textile Mills Limited, Sheikhupura Textile Mills Limited and Chiniot Textile Mills Limited through their counsel Sulman Akram Raja.

The Court comprising Justice Aqil Mirza while staying the recovery of 50 percent of the bill issued to the mills directed them to furnish half of the remaining amount in the shape of any guarantee, except bank guarantee.

It was submitted that the electrical supply to the petitioners was sanctioned in terms of Wapda Tariff B-3. Later, the load of the petitioners increased and another connection of the load of 9200 kw was sanctioned in terms of Tariff B-4.

Wapda without announcing the new category, introduced a category described as 'Time of Day B-4' tariff and the original B-4 category was also retained. The Wapda without intimating to the petitioner, unilaterally changed the category of supply of the petitioner from 'B-4' to the 'Time of Day B-4' category, the petitioner's counsel submitted.

It was also submitted that change in the manner of charging has been applied selectively and in a discriminatory method, while a number of electricity consumers are still being served with the bills on the previous terms and conditions, claimed the counsel.

It was prayed that the Wapda may be directed to recalculate the bills of the petitioner on the previous method and no discrimination should be adopted in this regard.