Meralco, other power firms face SC to defend rate hike | Inquirer News

Meralco, other power firms face SC to defend rate hike

/ 12:19 PM January 21, 2014

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Manila Electric Company, power suppliers, the government regulators will face the Supreme Court to justify the validity record high P4.15 per kilowatt hour rate increase.

Set to face the justices are lawyers of Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Act Teachers Partylist and Kabataan Partylist  Carlos Isagani Zarate and Neri Colmenares while lawyer Leonard DeVera will argue on behalf of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore)

Article continues after this advertisement

They will be given 30 minutes to present their arguments based on the eight-point guidelines issued by the high court last week.

FEATURED STORIES

The counsels for petitioners will face interpellation by members of the high court after they have presented their argument.

Meralco’s lawyers, led by retired high court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, will be given 40 minutes to present their defense.

Article continues after this advertisement

On the other hand, the Office of the Solicitor General that represents the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), will explain its approval of the power rate hike within 30 minutes.

Article continues after this advertisement

Other parties led by Anakpawis partylist  will have 30 minutes to present their arguments to be followed by other respondents, including the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC).

Article continues after this advertisement

The high court told petitioners and respondents to argue on whether the ERC violated the consumers’ right to due process and a provision in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) requiring it to protect the public from market abuse; whether or not the amendment to Section 4(e), Rule 3 of the EPIRA law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations which allows automatic rate adjustments or increases to recover generation cost violates due process of law, and whether or not the ERC resolution allowing rate adjustments proposed by Meralco last Dec. 9 is valid.

They are also expected to tackle whether the 60-day temporary restraining order issued against Meralco should be lifted and if refund can be granted.

Article continues after this advertisement

The high court had directed Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, ERC chair Zenaida Ducut and PEMC president Melinda Ocampo to attend the hearing.

RELATES STORIES

ERC: Power rate hike collection scheme above board

Meralco hikes rates by up to P3 per kWh

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Meralco set to refund customers after high court TRO on rate hike

TAGS: Bayan Muna, Gabriela, MERALCO, Nasecore, Nation, News

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.