Solons hit ERC chief over ‘non-report’ on power rate hike

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair got an earful in her first appearance at the House of Representatives for submitting a short seven-page “non-report” on the power rate hike.

Apologizing ahead of the criticism for failing to attend previous hearings, ERC chair Zenaida Ducut received strong rebukes from lawmakers for submitting a short report despite having more than a month to prepare it.

“It’s a non-report. It just said it would go into an investigation,” Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said Thursday during the energy committee hearing on the power hike by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

“After more than a month, if this is the kind of report they’re giving us, I think it is disrespect to the institution of Congress,” he added.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares also called it a “non-report,” adding that the body should have a time table to complete the investigation.

The committee is hearing ERC’s investigation on the pending hike, described by critics as a result of possible collusion among power players to increase the price in the spot market. The power hike was stalled by the Supreme Court due to public outcry.

Ducut apologized for the short report, but noted that she would rather have a short report than a non-conclusive one.

“Gusto ko man din matapos ito para sa mamamayan… (pero) mas gugustuhin kong hindi mag-submit ng report kapag hindi conclusive (I really wanted it finished for the benefit of the people, but I’d rather not submit a report it it’s non-conclusive),” she said.

The report contained six pages of background on the power situation, with the seventh page listing the preliminary findings.

The findings cited the supply situation from October to December that contributed to historical high bids from power players.

It added that other factors were the plant outages and non-offering of bids by the power plants.

“At this stage, the undersigned respectfully declines to provide more details of the investigation lest the investigating unit be accused that it had already made a determination at this point of the investigation,” the report read.

Energy committee chair and Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali said the ERC should have more personnel especially as he received information that the body only had four technical employees.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla added that the department could not help the ERC in the investigation since the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA only mandates the ERC to probe non-competition allegations.

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