IRR on RA 7832 needs to be amended - ERC

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced on 01 December 2009 the conduct of expository hearings and public consultations on proposed amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 7832 (RA 7832) otherwise known as the “Act Penalizing the Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Power Transmission Lines/Materials, Rationalizing System Losses by Phasing Out Pilferage Losses as a Component thereof and for Other Purposes” or simply the “Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.” 

The IRR of RA 7832 was promulgated by the then ERC in July 1995.  Since then a number of Supreme Court decisions have been released interpreting its different provisions, prompting the ERC to adopt several policies to clarify the IRR.  The ERC deems it necessary to amend some provisions of the IRR in order to incorporate the policy changes.

The proposed amendments include, among others, new policies and principles to clarify concerns on:  (1) who can be charged of a violation under RA 7832;   (2) the procedures and allowed times of apprehension; (3) the determination of the proper party liable to pay with the manner of computation and payment of differential bills; and (4) the disconnection procedures and imposition of surcharges.

The expository hearings on the amendments of the IRR on RA 7832 are set on 06 January 2010 in Cebu City for DUs located in the Visayas and Mindanao areas and on 13 January 2010 in Manila for DUs located in Luzon area.  The public consultation thereon will be held in Manila on 03 February 2010.

“The electricity stakeholders must actively participate in the expository hearings and public consultation to be conducted if they are really serious in protecting their basic rights as consumers,” ERC Chairperson Ducut observed.

December 23 , 2009

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