ERC slams NASECORE for its contemptuous remarks

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) took to the task the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (NASECORE) over its malicious accusation that the ERC and the Department of Energy (DOE) are protecting the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) instead of the electricity consumers.

The accusation was made by Mr. Pete Ilagan, NASECORE president, who said that MERALCO illegally collected Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) charges of PhP2,499 billion for eight months, covering November and December in 2006 and January to June, 2007. The accusation was reported in a tabloid on 15 June 2007.

The ERC was discomfited by Mr. Ilagan’s irresponsible, baseless and wild accusation. Mr. Ilagan should stop pretending that he is not aware of the fact the ERC had motu proprio directed MERALCO to rectify its mistake in an Order dated 01 February 2007, where it directed MERALCO to refund to its customers the differential amount that was erroneously collected for the billing months of November and December 2006.

“It is very disappointing to be irresponsibly accused by Mr. Ilagan. This is a strange and grave attack on the ERC by a man (Mr. Ilagan) who is a witness to ERC’s transparent actions. The ERC hopes that Mr. Ilagan realizes the repercussions of his contemptuous actions, including giving the public false information that could cause unwarranted restiveness among electricity consumers that he claims to protect. The ERC will not hesitate exercising its powers to defend itself from these malicious attacks,” Chairman Albano concluded.

June 18, 2007