ERC and DTI formulate standards for electric watt-hour meters

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) are now working together to prescribe the technical standards for electric watt-hour meters to be used in the country.

The Consumer Affairs Service of ERC and the Bureau of Product Standards of DTI are the working groups tasked to review international technical standards for possible adoption by the Philippines as early as mid-2007.

The use of watt-hour meters with a high degree of accuracy and integrity will protect end-users, particularly households who have limited means of verifying the technical aspects of watt-hour meters.

After a public consultation to be held by ERC in the 1st quarter of 2007, the standards will be promulgated as the Philippine National Standard for electric watt-hour meters for implementation by both the DTI and the ERC for electric cooperatives and private distribution utilities throughout the country.

“Meanwhile, electricity end-users are encouraged to bring to the attention of their distribution utility any meter suspected to be inaccurate after an unexplained increase or decrease in kilowatt-hour consumption in order that the meter can be tested and calibrated for accuracy,” ERC Chairman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. said.

ERC highly appreciates the cooperation of the DTI-BPS in providing the necessary policy directions and guidelines to facilitate the drafting of the technical standards that will protect public interest, one of the mandates of the Commission.

November 29, 2006