Meralco to seek ERC clearance to recover P5.33/kWh gen charge in January

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will file a petition with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to recover the P5.33 per kilowatt hour (kWh) rise in generation charge in January, according to a report aired on GMA News' 24 Oras Thursday.

“Sa rules natin puwedeng isang bagsak pero alam naman ng Meralco na hindi yan papabor sa consumers kaya gaya ng ginawa namin doon sa naunang mataas na presyo na P4.15, magpo-propose kami ng staggered payment uli,” Meralco first vice president and legal department head William Pamintuan said.

But the ERC said consumers will not be charged higher immediately as Meralco's petition will have to be scrutinized by the regulatory body.

“The earliest that the commission can act on this is after 30 days so it is March by then at kung may desisyon na may provisional relief, the earliest the decision we can make is March or April,” ERC executive director Francis Juan said.

The January spike in generation charge is not covered by Supreme Court's temporary restraining order (TRO) on the record high P4.15 per kWh issued last December.

Meralco reiterated its warning that its five million customers may experience brownouts this summer if the TRO is not yet lifted.

“May mga generator kasi na baka hindi na makapagsupply kasi hindi nga nila mabayaran yung fuel suppliers nila. So kundi sila makapagproduce ng kuryente, wala naman silang ibebenta sa atin at wala rin tayong ididistribute,” Pamintuan said. — BM, GMA News