In a recent statement, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino expressed his concerns over the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) slow response to power rate resets, particularly in the case of Manila Electric Corp. (Meralco). Tolentino highlighted that Meralco’s last rate reset, which expired in 2015, was only recently addressed when the ERC allowed Meralco to withdraw its application on October 30, nearly a decade later.
Tolentino criticized the ERC for its prolonged inaction, questioning why it took so long to address an issue that should have been resolved years ago. He emphasized the ERC’s responsibility to conduct timely rate reviews and establish clear rules for setting distribution wheeling rates, pointing out the agency’s failure to protect consumer interests.
The senator stressed the importance of the ERC being proactive and vigilant in its role, arguing that the public should not suffer due to inefficiencies and exploitation within the power sector. He called for the ERC to act quickly to enhance transparency and accountability in its operations, asserting that Filipinos deserve a regulatory body that effectively responds to their needs.
Tolentino also demanded that the ERC ensure Meralco’s refund process for overcharged fees is managed promptly and transparently. This comes after the ERC ordered Meralco to refund PHP987.16 million for improper charges related to rate resets. Additionally, 16 other distribution utilities are expected to return PHP189.98 million, totaling approximately PHP1.177 billion in refunds.
These charges were collected without a formal regulatory reset, with the costs covered by the government budget, further highlighting the urgency for the ERC to address these long-standing issues.