The Electricity Regulatory Commission Nepal has concluded that the claims made by industrialists in the long-running dispute over dedicated feeder and trunk line electricity tariffs are insufficient.
Following a hearing held on Sunday between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the industrialists, the commission determined that the evidence and demands submitted by the industries did not justify their claims.
Commission Chairperson Ram Prasad Dhital said the industrialists’ claims could not be substantiated, and therefore the commission could not rule in their favor.
The commission specifically ruled that the claims filed by Panchakanya Plastic and Panchakanya Steel, companies under the Panchakanya Group, were not valid.
Industrialists had long disagreed with the Nepal Electricity Authority over the requirement to pay premium tariffs for electricity supplied through dedicated feeders and trunk lines during the period of load-shedding. With the commission’s latest decision, the authority now has the legal pathway to collect the outstanding dues from those industries.
According to the authority, Panchakanya Plastic has outstanding dues of Rs 2.463 million, while Panchakanya Steel owes Rs 5.219 million.
The companies had previously agreed to repay the dues in 28 installments, and both industries have already paid the first installment. Panchakanya Plastic has paid Rs 77,975, while Panchakanya Steel Industries has paid Rs 186,405, according to the authority.
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