NEW DELHI: US energy major Enron's Dabhol Power Company (DPC) on Wednesday filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the Mumbai High Court order dismissing its plea challenging the authority of Maharashtra Electricty Regulatory's Commission (MERC) to adjudicate on its payment dispute with MSEB.

DPC's lawyers said that the SLP was filed in the apex court on Wednesday, but declined to divulge the contents of the writ.

Enron had moved the high court for quashing of MERC order restraining the US energy giant from activating the escrow account and initiating international arbitration proceedings against MSEB, which allegedly had defaulted on payment of electricity bills.

The high court on June 26 had dismissed DPC's petition on the ground that that MERC was an expert body and competent enough to decide the matter.

The high court, while staying implementation of its order till July 10 to allow the company to seek further legal remedy, had directed the commission to decide the issue within six weeks.

However, the multinational had obtained a further repreive till July 17 as it had recieved the court order on July 2.

Enron's Indian unit, Dabhol Power Co and state utility MSEB, have been locked in a wrangle for more than six months over payments.

In May, Enron issued a preliminary termination notice after MSEB defaulted on payments, and the utility, Dabhol's sole buyer, stopped taking power from the embattled $2.9-billion plant. PTI

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