Power tribunal likely for payment disputes

New Delhi: The government proposes to set up an electricity tribunal to resolve disputes over payment between state distribution companies and generating companies in a time-bound manner, keeping intact powers of the existing appellate tribunal and electricity regulators.

The proposed tribunal will have original jurisdiction, meaning it will be able to take up original petitions. “Unlike tribunals in other sectors, power sector at present has an appellate tribunal which means any dispute can be taken up by the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) only when it is referred by a court or regulators.