ERC issues a strong warning against impostors

ERC Chairman Manuel R. Sanchez strongly warned unscrupulous businessmen to cease and desist from using the name of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in selling their products. Sanchez further warned that “the Commission will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found using the name of the ERC to promote their merchandise.”

“We remain steadfast in our duty to promote and protect the welfare of electricity consumers, but we cannot go to the extent of endorsing the products of any entity, much less sell them directly,” Sanchez said.

The Commission, through its Consumer Affairs Service (CAS), on several occasions, received reports that certain individuals are using the agency’s name in trying to entice consumers into buying their merchandise claiming themselves as ERC’s authorized dealers.

The most recent incident involved a residential consumer from Plaridel, Bulacan who was approached by an impostor showing an ERC Identification Card, and offered to sell an energy saving device called a “circuit bond connection”. The unscrupulous vendor harassed the prospective buyer and immediately left when asked for a calling card.

Alarmed by the frequency of these kinds of incidents, Chairman Sanchez instructed ERC personnel to intensify its investigation and enforcement activities in coordination with the local governments and other government agencies fighting these criminal activities.

“We would like to appeal to the consumers’ vigilance to stop these misrepresentations and punish deceitful vendors. For any information regarding these kind of activities, ERC could be reached through its CAS hotline numbers 687-5577 and 687-5544.” Complaints can also be sent via text message using the Text ERC facility by typing “ERC ” and sending it to 2920,” the ERC chief added.

October 14 , 2003