Meralco welcomes extended TRO on rate hike

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court extending the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the P4.15-rate increase since the decision includes their power suppliers.

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said they have not received the official court order, but will obey the decision of the Supreme Court.

He said Meralco would continue to discuss with the generation companies, concerned government agencies, consumer groups and other stakeholders regarding this issue.

“We are still hopeful that this case before the SC will be resolved eventually to the satisfaction of all stakeholders,” Zaldarriaga said in an interview on Inquirer Radio 990AM.

He, meanwhile, clarified reports that they are seeking another power rate increase before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“Actually, that is an application that we filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission for the recovery of the differential generation charge for the December 2013 supply month,” he said.

He said that during the oral argument at the high court on the power rate increase, it came out that the TRO covers only the November supply month that will reflect on the consumer’s December billing.

He added that the actual generation charge for the December supply month, which was supposed to be collected during the consumer’s January billing was not included.

“Since we did not collect the actual generation charge during that time and applied the old generation cost which is 5.67 pesos, we will have to recover this,” he said citing this is a cost recovery since the billing month has already passed.

He, however said, this will go through the process of approval by the ERC.

He said Meralco plans to stagger the P4.56 uncollected generation charge within the six-month billing period of its consumers.

RELATED STORIES

SC extends TRO on Meralco rate hike

Solon seeks review of Meralco franchise