DOJ backs senior citizens’ discount for power use over 100 kwh

The Department of Justice has expressed support for a House measure that would allow senior citizens to enjoy a five-percent monthly discount on their electric bills even if they exceed the 100 kilowatt-per-hour (kwh) cap.

Under the current law, Republic Act 9994, senior citizens could only avail of the 5-percent discount so long as their power consumption does not exceed 100 kwh.

But under his proposed measure, House Bill 3169, Rep. Jose Atienza does not want senior citizens exceeding monthly consumption of 100 kwh to be disqualified from the discount. Instead, the senior citizens will enjoy a 5-percent discount on the first 100 kwh consumption, and the exceeding consumption will be charged under regular rates.

"Anent the grant of a monthly five percent discount to the first  one hundred kilowatt hours of electricity thus consumed, we are of the view that the said measure is inclusive of a wider socioeconomic echelon of senior citizens," said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in a legal opinion.

De Lima issued her three-page opinion upon the request of Biliran Rep. Rogelio Espina, chairman of the Committee on Population and Family Relations of the House of Representatives.

Meralco has earlier insisted that the cap under RA 9994 should stay, saying the power distributor would be forced to "shift" or pass on additional charges to "another segment of the consumers" if the cap is implemented.

"If this is the case, this Department is of the view that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) shall also be invited to solicit their views on how the measure could be fully enjoyed by the senior citizens without shifting the cost to subsidizing customers," said De Lima. -NB, GMA News