Torrent Power Limited vs. U.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission 2025 INSC 838 - S.128 Electricity Act
Electricity Act 2003- Section 128 - Unless some satisfactory grounds are given for initiating an investigation, a petition or an application under Section 128 cannot be held to be maintainable. The ERCs are required to consider matters in public interest wherever mandated by the Act, 2003, i.e., in matters relating to tariff determination, procurement of power processes, and utility/licensee management which requires safeguarding of consumer interest alongside the commercial principles (Para 68)- The Act does not envisage direct regulatory oversight as regards distribution franchisees and by virtue of their relationship of agency, such franchisees can only be indirectly regulated through the distribution licensee. Therefore, even an investigation under Section 128 can only happen in respect of a distribution licensee and not its franchisee. (Para 75)
Case Info
Case Name and Neutral Citation
- Case Name: Torrent Power Limited v. U.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission & Ors.
- Neutral Citation: 2025 INSC 838
Coram
- Justice J.B. Pardiwala
- Justice R. Mahadevan
Judgment Date
- 14th July 2025
Caselaws and Citations Referred
- Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. v. Reliance Energy Ltd.(2007) 8 SCC 381
- Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. v. Adarsh Textiles(2014) 16 SCC 212
- Energy Watchdog v. CERC(2017) 14 SCC 80
- M.P. Power Management Co. Ltd. v. Sky Power Southeast Solar India (P) Ltd.(2023) 2 SCC 703
- Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. v. MB Power (M.P.) Ltd.(2024) 8 SCC 513
- All India Power Engineer Federation v. Sasan Power Ltd.(2017) 1 SCC 487
- Rajeev Hitendra Pathak v. Achyut Kashinath Karekar(2011) 9 SCC 541
- Chiranjilal Shrilal Goenka v. Jasjit Singh(1993) 2 SCC 507
- A.R. Antulay v. R.S. Nayak(1988) 2 SCC 602
- Bhadreshwar Vidyut (P) Ltd. v. Maharashtra ERC2024 SCC OnLine APTEL 47
- Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. v. Solar Semiconductor Power Co. (India) (P) Ltd.(2017) 16 SCC 498
- Amausi Industries Association v. Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission2013 SCC OnLine APTEL 138
- Citizen Forum, Maharashtra v. State of Maharashtra2008 SCC OnLine Bom 165
- Global Feeds Feedback Energy Distribution Company Private Ltd. v. Govt. of Odisha2019 SCC OnLine Ori 205
- City Corporation Limited v. Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission and Anr.2024 SCC OnLine APTEL 103
Statutes/Laws Referred
- Electricity Act, 2003(Sections 2(15), 2(17), 2(27), 2(38), 2(49), 5, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 79, 82, 86, 107, 108, 111, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 135–139, 143, 152, 161, 178, 181)
- Uttar Pradesh Electricity Reforms Act, 1999
- Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum & Electricity Ombudsman) Regulations, 2007
- Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Conduct of Business) Rules, 2004
- Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (General Conditions of Distribution License) Regulations, 2004
- Companies Act, 1956 (Section 235)
- Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948
- Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998
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