Madras High Court
M/S.Ars Energy Pvt Ltd vs Tamil Nadu Power Distribution on 27 January, 2025
W.P.No.2329 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 27.01.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.SOUNTHAR
W.P.No.2329 of 2025 and
W.M.P.Nos.2653 and 2656 of 2025
M/s.ARS Energy Pvt Ltd
(formerly Known as ARS Metals Pvt Ltd),
Rep By Its Director Mr.N.Prabu,
Power Division, H.T.SC.No.1984,
D-109, 2nd Floor, IBR Complex,
Anna Nagar East, Chennai-600 102 ... Petitioner
vs.
1.Tamil Nadu Power Distribution
Corporation Limited (TNPDCL)
Rep. by its Chairman,
NPKRR Maaligai,
144, Anna Salai,
Chennai – 600 002.
2.Chief Financial Controller/Revenue [FAC],
7th Floor Eastern Wing, TNPDCL,
NPKRR Maligai,
Chennai 600 002
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W.P.No.2329 of 2025
3.Director (Finance)
TNPDCL,
NPKRR Maaligai,
144, Anna Salai,
Chennai – 600 002
4.The Superintending Engineer
Chennai EDC / North
TNPDCL, Anna Salai
Chennai – 600 002.
5.Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission,
TNERC,
4th Floor, SIDCO Corporate Office building,
Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate,
Guindy, Chennai, 600032. ... Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to quash the impugned
instructions issued by the 2nd respondent vide letter dated 12.12.2024
bearing reference Lr.No.CFC/REV/FC/AO/AS-3/REV/D.NO.557-1/24
directing all Superintending Engineers of TNPDCL to bill all generators
availing start-up power under High Tension Tariff-I(two part tariff
system)under the respective tariff orders issued by the 5th respondent
TNERC for the period from 1.8.2017 to 30.6.2024 and the consequential
demand notice issued by the 4th respondent dated 21.12.2024 bearing
reference Lr.No.SE/CEDC/N/DFC/AAO/HT/AS/F.ARS/D.735/24 and dated
18.1.2025 bearing reference
Lr.No.SE/CEDC/N/DFC/AAO/HT/AS/F.ARS/D 751/25 as being arbitrary,
illegal without authority and contrary to the provisions of the Electricity Act
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W.P.No.2329 of 2025
2003 the regulations framed thereunder as well as the tariff orders issued by
5th respondent TNERC and to consequently direct the respondent TNPDCL
to forbear from pursuing any recovery action contrary to the binding tariff
orders of the TNERC and the order dated 29.12.2023 passed in T.A.No.13
of 2022 and batch, consistent and in line with the tariff orders issued by the
TNERC for the period from 1.8.2017 to 30.6.2024
For Petitioner : Mr.R.S.Pandiyaraj
For Respondents : Mr.D.R.Arunkumar
Standing Counsel (TNEB)
ORDER
By consent of both the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as respondents, this writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage itself.
2. This Writ Petition is filed challenging the order passed by the 2nd respondent vide Letter in Lr.No.CFC/REV/FC/AO/AS-3/REV/D.No.557- 1/24, dated 12.12.2024 directing all the Superintending Engineers to bill the petitioner and similarly placed generators under HT TARIFF-I as per the respective tariff orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, TNERC/the 5th respondent for the period from 01.08.2017 to 30.06.2024 with applicable BPSC.
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3. Earlier, the dispute arose regarding the applicable tariff/billing of start-up power and writ petitions were filed before this Court by petitioner and other generators in W.P.No.26266 of 2013 etc., batch and all those writ petitions were transferred to the 5th respondent by order dated 27.08.2021 passed by this Court. Pursuant to the same, the 5th respondent/TNERC disposed of all those petitions by order dated 29.12.2023. Aggrieved by the same, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited/1 st respondent herein filed appeal before the APTEL. While passing an interim order in the appeal, the APTEL clarified that it was left open to TNERC to adjudicate the dispute raised by the parties. Pursuant to the direction issued by the APTEL, the petitioner herein filed a clarificatory petition in M.P.No.55 of 2024 before the TNERC. Along with the clarificatory petition, the petitioner has also filed a stay application in I.A.No.1 of 2024 and the same is posted for hearing on 28.01.2025.
4. In the meantime, the impugned order has been passed by the 2 nd respondent issuing certain directions to all Superintending Engineers regarding amount payable by the petitioner. 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2329 of 2025
5. Since the stay application filed by the petitioner is pending before the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission/the 5th respondent herein, this Court without expressing any opinion on the merits of the points raised by the petitioner, is inclined to direct the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission/5th respondent to take up the stay application filed by the petitioner in I.A.No.1 of 2024 in M.P.No.55 of 2024 and pass final orders on its own merits and in accordance with law, on or before 07.02.2025.
6. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected writ miscellaneous petitions are closed.
27.01.2025 (2/2) Index : Yes/No Speaking order:Yes/No Neutral Citation:Yes/No nr Note: Issue order copy on 05.02.2025 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2329 of 2025 To
1.The Chairman, Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) Tamil Nadu Power Distribution NPKRR Maaligai, 144, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.
2.Chief Financial Controller/Revenue [FAC], 7th Floor Eastern Wing, TNPDCL, NPKRR Maligai, Chennai 600 002.
3.Director (Finance) TNPDCL, NPKRR Maaligai, 144, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.
4.The Superintending Engineer Chennai EDC / North TNPDCL, Anna Salai Chennai – 600 002.
5.Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, TNERC, 4th Floor, SIDCO Corporate Office building, Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai, 600032.
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nr W.P.No.2329 of 2025and W.M.P.Nos.2653 and 2656 of 2025 27.01.2025 (2/2) 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis