RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: The Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended the fuel charges adjustment (FCA) from power tariffs of all consumers instead of 200 units users. The court has directed the concerned authorities to drop FCA on power bills.
The bench, led by Justice Jawad Hassan, gave the decision while hearing a petition filed by Advocate Ch Rizwan Elahi.
The petitioner requested the LHC bench to withdraw the FCA being charged from power consumers irrespective of the number units. The judge suspended the FCA and directed the CEO of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to appear before the court on September 15.
The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) were also summoned at the next date of hearing.
Separately, the LHC rejected a plea against the FCA. Justice Anwaar Hussain was hearing a petition filed by Sardar Mehrab Hassan, a leader of the Pakistan Kissan Party, seeking interim relief for agricultural and domestic consumers.
The judge rejected the plea but gave interim relief to a farm consumer in connection with the FCA.
The court also sought a reply from the federal government, Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) and other power distribution companies on the issue.
The judge ordered clubbing of all similar petitions on the matter and fixed the date of September 15 for hearing them.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recently announced waiving FCA on electricity bills for 17 million consumers who consume up to 200 units while no relief was announced for the electricity users with monthly consumption of more than 200 units.
Federal Energy Minister Khurrum Dastgir had later said at a news conference that the elimination of FCA in the entire country was for only those who consumed up to 200 units of electricity per month.
