Consumers welcome govt move to hold meeting about power rate hike
05/03/2008 | 12:47 PM
MANILA, Philippines - A local alliance of electricity consumers welcomed the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) move to hold a consultative meeting on May 6. Besides bringing consumers and members of the energy industry together, the meeting intends to seek an explanation regarding the recent increase in electricity costs.
In a statement, EmPOWER Consumers also said that the “consultative meeting must be regularized."
“ERC must no longer wait for consumers to ask for this meeting," Maris dela Cruz, the group’s spokesperson said. “On its own, the agency should conduct meetings to explain sudden changes in the electric bills and other matters regarding developments which affect electricity pricing. The consumers have the right to know this especially during this time of crisis when every centavo is important to us."
Dela Cruz added that besides knowing the reason for the power rate hike, consumers should also “see appropriate actions from the concerned agencies to protect their interests from future unjust pricing."
According to the group, it earlier asked the commission to also call on Meralco, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.(PSALM), the National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), and the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) to explain the said power rate hike.
“Though we wanted this meeting to take place last week, we are happy nonetheless that ERC Commissioner Rodolfo Albano responded positively to our demand," said Pete Ilagan of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, a member of EmPOWER Consumers.
“These power companies and agencies have a lot of explaining to do to the consumers. For one, the issue on high prices at wholesale electricity spot market has been a perennial excuse by Meralco in its past increases. Unfortunately, this has not been clearly explained to the public, especially the alleged price manipulations that happened during the first few months of operation of WESM in 2006," added Wilson Fortaleza, Board Member of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, a convenor of the group. - GMANews.TV
In a statement, EmPOWER Consumers also said that the “consultative meeting must be regularized."
“ERC must no longer wait for consumers to ask for this meeting," Maris dela Cruz, the group’s spokesperson said. “On its own, the agency should conduct meetings to explain sudden changes in the electric bills and other matters regarding developments which affect electricity pricing. The consumers have the right to know this especially during this time of crisis when every centavo is important to us."
Dela Cruz added that besides knowing the reason for the power rate hike, consumers should also “see appropriate actions from the concerned agencies to protect their interests from future unjust pricing."
According to the group, it earlier asked the commission to also call on Meralco, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.(PSALM), the National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), and the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) to explain the said power rate hike.
“Though we wanted this meeting to take place last week, we are happy nonetheless that ERC Commissioner Rodolfo Albano responded positively to our demand," said Pete Ilagan of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, a member of EmPOWER Consumers.
“These power companies and agencies have a lot of explaining to do to the consumers. For one, the issue on high prices at wholesale electricity spot market has been a perennial excuse by Meralco in its past increases. Unfortunately, this has not been clearly explained to the public, especially the alleged price manipulations that happened during the first few months of operation of WESM in 2006," added Wilson Fortaleza, Board Member of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, a convenor of the group. - GMANews.TV
