Consumer group claims ERC tried to 'maneuver' P6.9B Meralco refund order

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) tried to maneuver a directive for the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to give back P6.9 billion the power distributor overcharged its customers in the past three years, a consumer group alleged on Friday.

The United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) based its allegation on the fact the ERC confirmed the directive only on Thursday afternoon even though the order was originally posted on the ERC website in the form of a press release early this month – but the directive was eventually taken down.

The group claimed someone was probably trying to maneuver the situation in favor of Meralco by buying time for the power distributor and stretching the time it will take to make the refund to 12 months from three.

"Bakit ngayon lang na-confirm? E noong May 2 pinost na nga nila sa website tapos nung nagkaroon ng suspension si Salazar binawi, nawala na sa website ... So ano ang ibig sabihin nito? Sino ang nag-maniobra? Sino ang nag-utos na tanggalin sa website at bakit tinanggal?," UFCC President Rodolfo Javellana said during a forum in Quezon City.

The press statement posted on the ERC's website on May 2 referred to the commission's order to refund P6.9 billion in "over-recoveries" from 2014 to 2016. But the order was removed on day Malacañang issued a preventive suspension order against ERC Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar on May 4.

In an separate text message to GMA News Online late Thursday, ERC spokesperson Rexie Digal noted the commission confirmed the directive in a special commission meeting Thursday afternoon.

"It is doing its best to fast track the release of the order and it will be implemented by Meralco in the next billing cycle after receipt thereof. Most likely, it will be reflected in the June billing ... " Digal said.

But Javellana was not convinced, and further alleged that a re-evaluation of the refund order was an attempt to delay the implementation and stretch the time it will take for Meralco to complete the refund.

In a separate interview on Friday, Digal denied the allegations Javellana made against the ERC.

"The press release was removed because it was unauthorized, meaning wala pang pirmadong order. So bakit in-upload?" she said.

In fact, the "unauthorized posting" of the press statement is now under investigation by the commission, according to the ERC spokesperson.

After Salazar was suspended, the commission decided to deliberate on the directive once again because the chairman lost his authority to enforce the order.

"Now, bakit diniliberate ulit? It just so happens na noong ilalabas na 'yung order Chairman Salazar was suspended so hindi na siya ang pwedeng pumirma o mag-promulgate. Kaya kailangan i-reconfrim ng mga natitirang commissioners to put everything in legal para hindi ma-question," Digal said.

After the order was reconfirmed nothing was changed. The three-month refund period was the same and the amount Meralco must give back to its customers was also the same, she added. — VDS, GMA News