The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Tuesday issued notices to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and other respondents while hearing the federal government's petition challenging the judgments of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the levy imposed on private power plants.
Bench Composition and Proceedings
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case. During the proceedings, Justice Farooq raised several key questions, asking when the government had issued the levy notification and whether the regulator determined the power generation cost of each plant.
Government's Petition
The federal government moved the apex court against the high court verdicts that had struck down the levy on private power producers. The petition argues that the levy is a legitimate regulatory measure and that the high courts erred in their judgments.
NEPRA's Role
NEPRA, as the electricity regulator, is responsible for determining tariffs and costs for power generation. The court sought clarification on whether NEPRA had assessed the generation costs of each private plant before the levy was imposed.
Next Hearing
The court adjourned the hearing after issuing notices, directing the respondents to submit their replies. The case is expected to be taken up again in the coming weeks.
