Lawmaker hits ERC on approval of ‘anomalous’ power rate hike

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Thursday slammed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for approving the average P0.22 per kilowatt hour (kwh) increase of Meralco for three consecutive months, from March to May supposedly due to the Malampaya shutdown.

READ: Industry, DOE prepare for Malampaya shutdown

“We have a situation now where similar circumstances like what happened during the Malampaya 2013 shutdown when energy players colluded and tried to pass on to consumers a P4.50/kwh,” Zarate said in a statement.

“Despite the lapse of time and several commitments to make public, ERC is yet to release its report on that anomalous rate hike. Now, it approved another power rate hike under similar questionable circumstances, that is why we filed House Resolution (HR) 863 to probe the matter,” he added.

The HR 863 seeks to conduct an investigation on the unreasonable Meralco rate increase.

The lawmaker said that the ERC have not even heard the opposition to the said hike, saying that it seems like the ERC is “trying to railroad this power rate hike.”

He called the said increase “unjust” and called on the consumers to likewise protest against it. IDL