ERC solicits comments on the proposed amendments to Magna Carta for Residential Consumers

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) resolved on 01 December 2009 to conduct expository hearings and public consultations on its proposed amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.

The amendments include the provisions that identify options, set parameters and/or clarify concerns on:   (1) application, transfer of and termination of electric service;       (2) liabilities of the house owner in case the applicant is a tenant of the premises sought to be energized; (3) billing and billing errors; (4) filing of protests.

Pursuant to Section 41 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, the ERC, to promote the interest of the electricity consumers, crafted the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers in June 2004 that spelled out in detail the rights and obligations of residential electricity consumers.

The Magna Carta was promulgated on 17 June 2004.  Since then, several rules, regulations and policies have been promulgated that indirectly affect residential electricity consumers.  The Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR) is one of those promulgations. The amendments on Magna Carta will reconcile and harmonize its provisions with those promulgations.

The expository hearings on the amendments of the Magna Carta are set on 07 January 2010 in Cebu City for DUs located in the Visayas and Mindanao areas; and on            14 January 2010 in Manila for DUs located in Luzon area.  The public consultation thereon will be held in Manila on 04 February 2010.

“The ERC is incessantly finding ways to protect and promote the welfare and interest of electricity consumers.  It is thus encouraging the active participation of the electricity stakeholders in this quasi-legislative exercise to amend certain provisions of the Magna Carta,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut said.

 

December 11, 2009

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