Govt keen on giving lifeline users power rate discounts

Marginalized end-users of electricity may enjoy an extension of rate reduction privileges, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said Monday. Both the executive and legislative branches are now reviewing the power bill that gives discounts to lifeline consumers or those who consume less than 21 kilowatt hour (kWh) a month, Almendras said. "We met with the energy committee in Congress. We've agreed that we will submit [the proposal to amend] for prioritization because of the deadline," he added. The Aquino administration’s Energy Reform Agenda includes revisiting the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) provisions that gave the rate reduction loan to marginalized electricity consumers. The EPIRA, passed in June 2001, mandated the implementation of lifeline subsidies for a period of 10 years. A 2008 resolution gave Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) lifeline rate consumers a 100 percent discount. Prior to EPIRA, discounts were set at 50 percent. Other bracket discounts were kept by the Energy Regulatory Commission at 50 percent for those consuming 21-50 kWh, 35 percent for 51-70 kWh and 20 percent for 71-100 kWh. Over 2.1 million Meralco customers or 45 percent of residential customers fall under the lifeline rates. — BC/VS, GMA News