Militant group says Meralco recomputation not enough

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After the Energy Regulatory Commission promised a recomputation of the rate hike that the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) imposed, a militant group has once again protested that the computed price is not enough.

Bayan Muna insisted that PEMC’s new prices of P2.43 per kilowatt hour, from the previous P4.15 per kwh, for the December generation charge, and P3.02 per kwh from the original P5.33 per kwh generation charge for January would still fall on Meralco if it would impose the new counts.

“First, the recomputation is far from satisfying considering that there should be no power rate hike in the first place because Meralco, the generation companies and other power players colluded and jacked up the price of electricity,” Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said in a statement Tuesday.

Colmenares added Meralco and other power companies “should be penalized” for their alleged “collusion” and “market manipulation.”