APTEL directs Adani Power to restore power supply to Haryana

Cracking the whip on Adani Power, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) on Wednesday directed the power generation company to restore power supply to Haryana, which the firm had abruptly stopped after the Supreme Court put a stay on the Tribunal's order on increase in rates.

Following the stay from the apex court on the petition of Haryana power utilities, Adani Power stopped power supply on August 25, without informing the court or APTEL.

"Adani Power ought to have informed its decision to suspend the supply of power either to the Supreme Court or before this Tribunal where various issues are pending in order to get the approval for the proposed action. This was not done. There is no explanation for the blatant failure", said the APTEL's order. The Tribunal passed an order directing Haryana utilities to make the payment to Adani Power, adding the compensatory tariff. This was later stayed by the Supreme Court on the appeal by Haryana power utilities and ruled out any increase in tariff. Thereafter, Adani Power stopped supply of 1,424 Mw to Haryana.

"In view of the above circumstances, we feel it would be appropriate to pass an order directing Adani Power, the respondent, to restore and maintain the supply of electricity to the Haryana utilities as against the contracted capacity of 1,424 Mw on a sustained and continued basis without interruption pending disposal of this Appeal," said the order.