ERC minds DUs in no-disconnection rule

An official of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Wednesday said the proposal to extend the no disconnection policy on power bills will take into account not just the consumers but distribution utilities (DUs) as well.

ERC imposed the no disconnection policy from May to July this year to aid power consumers from the high power rates partly due to the peak consumption period during the summer months and the impact of the Middle East crisis on fuel supply.

ERC Legal Service Director lawyer Maria Corazon Gines said they are looking into extending the policy for another month or two only.

“Yung tinitingnan namin ngayon, kung ano iyong pinakamaganda at patas hindi lamang sa ating mga consumers pati na rin iyong ating mga distribution utilities. Kasi kung papalawigin mo naman iyong no disconnection at walang magbabayad, baka makompromiso naman iyong mga bayarin sa mga suppliers ng kuryente na kailangan ding bayaran ng ating mga distribution utilities (We are looking for the best and most fair rule not only for the consumers but also the distribution utilities. If you’re going to extend the no disconnection policy and no one will pay, it might compromise the payments of the distribution utilities to their suppliers),” she said in an interview during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

Meanwhile, Gines said that while they have approved the application of DUs and electric cooperatives to increase generation charges, this will not greatly hurt the consumers since it will be done on a staggered basis.

Gines said generation charges account for around 50 to 70 percent of a power bill’s component. (PNA)