A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) not to hike electricity tariffs as announced by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission pending the determination of a motion challenging it.

It was learnt on Tuesday that the Senate might summon the DisCos, Minister of Power Saleh Mamman; NERC Chairman James Momoh and other relevant stakeholders in the sector over the planned tariff hike.

The NERC on December 31 directed the DisCos to raise their rates by over 70 per cent to enable them have enough capital to pay for electricity distributed by them.

But following public outcry, NERC back-pedaled, promising that consultations with consumers and other stakeholders would be carried out to determine if or not the new rate would stand.

At the hearing of a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Human Rights Foundation against 15 respondents in the electricity industry, Justice Muslim Hassan ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.