House Deputy Minority Leader Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares have asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to investigate Meralco for the alleged surge in electricity bills despite the Inter-Agency Task Force in Managing Emeging Infectious Diseases assurances that there is an overcapacity of supply.
“The recent Meralco justification that the surge in electricity bills of consumers is a result of higher consumption is questionable especially since President Duterte reported a downward trend in demand during the lockdown period,” said Zarate.
“According to President Rodrigo Duterte’s 6th Report dated May 4, 2020, excess capacity over peak demands have been registered with Luzon only using 3,341 (29 percent) megawatts, Visayas only 858 MW (33 percent), and Mindanao 878 MW (35 percent). In fact, in the latest report of President Duterte on May 11, he reported that major island grids exhibited excess capacity over peak demand with Luzon at 23 percent (2,683 MW), Visayas 28 percent (718 MW), and Mindanao at 30 percent. So how can consumption increase when the demand is going down from as we enter the summer period?”
“In fact, Meralco rates should not increase because it has claimed ‘force majeure’ among its supply contracts, meaning it will no longer pay its contract demand to its suppliers due to the COVID crisis. The ERC must investigate the complaint of surge in electricity bills since the government is empowered under Sec. 4 (i) and (u) of the Bayanihan law to regulate the supply power, fuel, energy, and water and protect the people from profiteering, cartels, monopolies, and other pernicious practices,” said the progressive solon.
“We have long demanded that Meralco should in fact condone electricity charges during the lock down to help our burdened consumers and we hope that Meralco would heed our call,” said Zarate.
Colmenares, on the other hand, said that “aside from the ERC, Congress should also look into this new power rate hike and not be sidetracked by Meralco’s plan to file a case against a consumer who claimed that he received a P1.7-million electric bill.”
