ERC defends Meralco for passing on systems loss to consumers

MANILA, Philippines- An official of the Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday defended Meralco and other distribution utilities passing on to their customers the cost of their system loss, saying this is an ERC approved practice. "Kung tungkol dun sa impormasyon tulad ng pag-charge nila ng system loss at own use as part ng system loss, ito po lahat ay pinayagan din ng ERC dahil ito ay parte ng gastusin (If it is about the charging of system loss and own use as part of system loss to consumers, these are allowed by the ERC as these are part of their expenses)," said ERC Executive Director Francis Juan said in an interview with radio dzBB. He explained the law allows all distribution utilities, not just Meralco, to recover their "just and reasonable cost". "Kasama yan sa own use na ipinapasa as part ng system loss dahil ito ay nasa patakaran na nagpapatupad ng RA (Republic Act) 7832 dahil ito ay isang just and reasonable cost din dahil kung ikaw ay nagnenegosyo, isinasama mo sa gastusin na gusto mong mabawi sa pamamagitan ng iyong benta ay yun gastusin mo sa iyong utilities din," Juan told radio dzBB's Mike Enriquez. (Those are considered as own use which is charged as part of system loss. These are allowed under the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 7832 because these are considered as just and reasonable cost. As a businessmen, you will include in the expenses which you want to recover through your sales your utilities expenses." He said what they do to protect the consumers is to check and verify if the charges are correct and in accordance with the law. Juan maintained that the welfare of the consumers is their primary concern. "Ang pinoprotektahan namin ay interest ng ating mga consumers at ito ay ginagampanan ng ERC sa abot ng kanyang makakaya (We are protecting the interest of the consumers and we are doing it to the best of our abilitiy)," Juan said. Meanwhile, the agency executive denied that ERC chairman Rodolfo Albano is planning to leave his office by taking a terminal leave. Juan said Albano does not intend to file a terminal leave and is, in fact, keen on serving until the end of his term on July 9. "Makababalik na siya sa Lunes, makarereport na siya sa trabaho (He will return on Monday, he will report to work)," Juan said Albano is said to be on a family vacation until May 17. However, rumors abound that he was on a Mediterranean Cruz with Manila Electric Co. chairman Manolo Lopez. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV