KATHMANDU: The Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) has warned the producers and developers of hydroelectricity projects not to disseminate manipulated information targeted at influencing the share prices of their companies.

Showing concern over the exorbitant rise in share prices of a number of hydropower companies recently, the government body recently issued a caution notice for the developers. “Anyone found misleading investors through fake information will face legal action,” reads a press statement issued by the ERC.

The regulatory body has urged the companies concerned to make public fact-based information of the companies’ financial status including net worth, returns per share, current assets and current liabilities, liquidity ratio and debt to equity ratio, among others. The investors should also assess the related risks along with the possible returns while injecting their money in the stocks of the hydropower companies, the ERC said.

As of now, 40 hydropower companies are listed at Nepal Stock Exchange. Companies like Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project, Rasuwagadhi, Sanjen, Chilime and Butwal Power Company hold the largest number of shares in the segment.