Makabayan bloc seeks probe on ‘sudden spike’ in Meralco bills

In this file photo, Reps. Arlene Brosas, Carlos Isagani Zarate, Sarah Jane Elago, France Castro and Ariel Casilao face the media in Makabayan bloc’s regular press briefing. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc is seeking an investigation into the “sudden spike” in Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) rates and bills amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawmakers filed House Resolution No. 879, a copy of which was released to the media on Tuesday, directing the House committee on energy to conduct the investigation amid consumer complaints over high electricity bills.

“Several media reports quoted electric consumers complaining about their Meralco bill that have tripled or, for some, even quadrupled, despite their present low consumption, as well as previous months,” the lawmakers said in the resolution.

“Such high and unconscionable electric bills, only added more anxiety to many, especially now when most people are in dire straits to survive the harsh effects of the crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” they added.

The lawmakers raised concerns over the spike in the electricity rates and bills “despite the overcapacity of electricity supply.”

In their call for an investigation, the lawmakers cited Section 4 (i) of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act which authorized President Rodrigo Duterte to enforce measures “to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices”, among others.

“The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is also mandated to penalize market power, cartelization, and anti-competitive or discriminatory behavior by any electric power industry participant and should have conducted its own investigation already,” the lawmakers said.

The Makabayan bloc in the lower chamber consists of Bayan Muna Partylist Representstives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite; ACT-Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro; Gabriela Women’s Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas; and Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago.

ERC has ordered Meralco to explain how it billed consumers during the implementation of the quarantine.

Meralco, meanwhile, has billed customers based on average consumption from December to February as meter reading could not be done in March and April due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.