ERC chair warns of brownouts as she alone can’t decide on power supply applications

The chair of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Friday warned that the one-year suspension of the body's four commissioners could result in widespread brownouts in the provinces and  even in Metro Manila.

According to Maki Pulido's report on  "24 Oras," ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said P1.88 trillion worth of power supply applications still need the commission's approval.

"Capital expenditures would mean the amount needed for them to address  the rehabilitation, the repairs... to ensure that the safety measures are installed... Without these works, there can be brownouts," Devanadera said.

Devanadera is the only ERC member left after the Ombudsman ordered the one-year suspension of commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit, and Geronimo Sta. Ana in connection with the alleged anomalous transactions involving power generation companies affiliated with the Manila Electric Co.

"ERC is a collegial body under the law, and therefore ERC cannot work, even if it has a chairman," Devanadera said.

The former Solicitor General and justice secretary said the suspended officials could not easily be replaced in their duties since their positions had not been officially vacated.

Devandera has written Malacañang to explain the dire implications of the suspension.

"We will have to refer the matter to the Office of the President...the four commissioners being the presidential appointees," Devanadera said.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Friday warned that the suspension pf the four commissioners would "paralyze" the commission.

“Pero totoo po magkakaroon po ng parang paralysis diyan, dahil pagdating sa polisiya ay hindi po sila makakagalaw dahil ang sabi ng batas ay kinakailangan na ang ERC ay pagbotohan iyong mga policies na iyan at sila po ay isang collegial body,” Roque said in a radio interview.

The spokesperson added that Malacañang was studying its options on how to keep the ERC running.

Devanadera said the commissioners would continue doing their jobs until the Palace would reach a decision on how to proceed. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News