Tulfo flags unpaid bills of some politicians in electric cooperatives

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Thursday flagged the practice of some politicians who own electric cooperatives of foregoing payment of their electric consumption, saying ordinary consumers could end up bearing the cost.

During the Senate Committee on Energy hearing, Tulfo said some electric cooperatives are owned or controlled by politicians, which he said could affect the collection of unpaid bills.

"That’s just real talk," Tulfo said.

At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy regarding the proposed scrapping of system loss charges, Tulfo said unpaid bills could mean lost revenue for electric cooperatives, with other consumers eventually carrying the burden.

Tulfo made the remarks as the committee examined non-technical system losses, including electricity pilferage and other losses for which consumers may be charged.

NEA: Disconnected

National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said that the agency had encountered politicians who failed to pay their electricity bills.

He said he had helped electric cooperatives deal with such cases and directed them to disconnect the electricity of politicians who continued to fail to pay.

"Why should I pay for something that was stolen from that company?" Tulfo said.

He said consumers should not have to pay for losses they did not cause, regardless of how small the percentage may be. –NB, GMA News