House panel approves 10-year extension of lifeline rates for poor

The House Committee on Energy approved on Friday a measure that would extend for another 10 years the grant of lifeline electricity rates or subsidized power bills for low-income consumers.

In a virtual hearing presided over by committee vice chairman Pampanga 2nd District Juan Miguel Arroyo, the House panel approved the substitute bill for the originally consolidated measures that seek to amend the Republic Act (RA) 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Under the EPIRA law, enacted in 2001, the lifeline rate was given a period of 10 years to benefit low-income customers.

In 2011, it was further extended until 2021.

The original bills are aimed to extend the lifeline rate for an additional 20 years or until 2041.

“Twenty years might be too long... and with the market forces, economic forces baka ‘yung value ng 10 years iba na ang value sa 20 years,” Arroyo said.

Power industry stakeholders such as the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission National Electrification Administration, Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Manila Electric Co., National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, among others backed the substitute bill.

Hearing no objection from the panel, Arroyo declared that the committee report on the measure is approved.

A similar measure was also approved by the Senate committees on energy and public services early this month. -NB, GMA News