ERC: Other power distributors asked to explain violations

MANILA, Philippines — Other power distributors were asked to explain why it violated regulatory advisories of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) regarding bills covered by the quarantine period due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), its chairperson and CEO said Saturday.

“Maraming nagsumbong. Nag-review kami ng mga reports at nakita naming maraming lumabag,” ERC head Agnes Devanadera said during the Laging Handa press briefing when asked if other power distributors also committed violations.

(Many have complained. We reviewed the reports and we saw that many distributors have violated.)

Some of the complaints, Devanadera added, were about distributors allegedly asking their customers to pay universal charges, even when the ERC already issued an advisory on the suspension of such charges.

“So ang ginawa ng ERC, sinulatan itong mga ito at pinagpapaliwanag natin,” Devanadera explained.

(So what the ERC did was wrote to them and asked why they violated it.)

However, the ERC chairperson did not disclose how many power distributors were found to have violated the commission’s advisories, and how much will the ERC fine.

“Hindi ko masasabi kung ilang ang magiging multa, dahil naghihintay pa tayo ng kasagutan sa order ng ERC na sila ay magpaliwanag bakit sa aming initial evaluation, eh may paglabag na sila sa ating advisories,” Devanadera said.

(I can’t say how much they will be fined, because the ERC is still asking them to explain why they violated them based on our initial evaluation.)

This comes as the ERC slapped a P19 million fine on the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) for not complying with the ERC’s order to allow customers to pay their electric bills in installments, as well as the power distributors “failure to clearly indicate” on its monthly bills.

CFC