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Saturday, September 02, 2006
Benguet power coop not refunding excess charges pending appeal
By Jane Cadalig
BENGUET Electric Cooperative (Beneco) consumers could not expect a return yet from the over-collection allegedly made by the power distribution utility.
Beneco General Manager Gerardo Verzosa said the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) order directing the utility to refund the overcharges to its consumers is not yet final and executory, leaving no possibility for management to implement it at this time.
The ERC, in a July 15 directive, ordered Beneco to return the over-collection from the purchased power adjustment (PPA) amounting to P33.9 million. The amount was reportedly collected from 1999 to 2004.
The commission stated in its order that the formula used by Beneco in computing the PPA was the method implemented by the former Energy Regulatory Board.
But Verzosa said the formula for the PPA computation was implemented way back in 1996, adding the ERC order confused them as to why the commission directed a refund of the supposed over-collection just now.
Beneco earlier asked the ERC to cancel its order, claiming there was no overpricing in the PPA component of its billings.
Verzosa surmised that the ERC committed lapses in issuing its order, explaining that the over-collection, as claimed by the commission, does not only affect Beneco but other electric cooperatives in various parts of the country as well.
"ERC might be wrong because several electric cooperatives are also being ordered to repay their over-collections," she explained in press conference yesterday.
The electric cooperatives in the Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Mountain Province, Abra, La Union, General Santos and Bohol are also being asked to remit their alleged PPA over-collection, said Verzosa.
(September 2, 2006 issue)
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