ERC adopts new Rules of Practice and Procedure
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on 22 June 2006 has resolved to adopt a new set of Rules of Practice and Procedure that will govern the proceedings before it. “It is high time to amend the previous Rules which were developed way back in 1987 by our predecessor office, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB), in order to make it attuned to the requirements of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA),” ERC Chairman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. explained.
The new set of Rules highlights some breakthroughs in the conduct of hearings before the ERC. First, it was designed to ensure expeditious disposition of cases by providing for rules that prevent delays and protracted proceedings. All actions to be taken are time bound such that unwarranted postponements and other dilatory tactics are avoided. Second, speedy resolution of cases will be done without compromising the basic principles of due process.
Under the new Rules, the ERC mandates the conduct of expository hearings and the consumer hour in rate applications. The expository hearings and consumer hour are just some of the innovations introduced so that all affected consumers, especially the residential customers, will be given an opportunity to clearly understand the application filed by the distribution utility and participate actively in the proceedings.
“With
the new Rules in place, all stakeholders are ensured that their rights will
be amply protected in the proceedings before the ERC and that the ERC will be
able to come up with well-informed decisions on cases filed before it,”
Chairman Albano stressed.