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Friday, April 02, 2004
ERC urges inputs on power consumers code
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) urged Ilonggo consumers to participate in the discussions for the final draft of the Magna Carta for Electricity Consumers.
Commissioner Leticia Ibay, who presided the public hearing in Iloilo City Wednesday afternoon, said individual consumers or consumer groups are given 15 days from March 31 to submit their inputs to the ERC.
Suggestions or recommendations can also be sent via email or fax to the ERC until April 27, the last day of the consultations, which will be held in Manila, she said.
The hearing last Wednesday was attended by representatives from various distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, government agencies and consumer groups.
In Iloilo City, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)-Iloilo Chapter and the Ilonggo Consumers Advocacy and Welfare (Icaw), headed by lawyer Romeo Gerochi, are also calling on the Ilonggo consumers to take part in the process in order to ensure strong consumer intervention in policy-making activities.
The Magna Carta for Electricity Consumers, which applies to residential consumers, is promulgated by the ERC pursuant to the provisions of section 41 of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).
It outlines an electricity consumers basic rights which include "quality, reliable, affordable, safe and regular supply of electric power;" accordance of "courteous and prompt service by the electric service provider;" and availment of "transparent, non-discriminatory and reasonable price of electricity and adequate access to information on matters affecting the electric consumer concerned."
Others include the right "to know and choose the electric service retailer upon the implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access and operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and to join together and organize themselves as a consumer organization in the franchise area where they belong and where they are served by the distribution utility."
Moreover, every electricity consumer must also comply with his/her obligations and responsibilities. He/she must "observe the terms of his contract, including, among other things, paying monthly electricity bills promptly and honestly; "allow the record of consumption to be reflected in the appropriate device faithfully and accurately;"
To allow the utility's employees/representatives entry access to the customer's premises for purposes of inspection, installation, reading, testing, removal, replacement or disposal of the utility's apparatus/electric watt-hour meter; and to cooperate with and support programs on the wise and efficient use of electricity.
Long overdue
"This is long overdue," Salvador Altura, legal officer of Panay Electric Company (Peco), said, adding that there is "nothing new" in the Magna Carta as it is just a "codification and harmonization" of the existing laws.
Altura said that as a distribution utility, Peco wants to help ERC formulate a "balanced" Magna Carta.
Engr. Wilfred Billena, general manager of Ileco-I, said that with the Magna Carta, the obligations of electric cooperatives would now be defined.
We want to have a balance Magna Carta for the equal protection of consumers and electric cooperatives, he said. NLG
(April 2, 2004 issue)
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