Press Release: ERC seeking final comments for revised Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers


The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is seeking final comments  on the second draft of the proposed revisions to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers  towards the finalization of the innovative bill of rights.  The second draft has been available since 8 June 2010 at www.erc.gov.ph.  Comments may be sent via email to consumer@erc.gov.ph. 

The ERC developed amendments to the previously issued Magna Carta in order to synchronize it with the amended Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (or DSOAR) which were promulgated on 22 February 2010 . The amended Magna Carta  aims to clarify and simplify  provisions relating to the : (1)  filing of protests, (2) high billings, (3) transfer and termination of electric service, (4) bill deposits, (5) billing errors, and (5) procedure protecting succeeding tenants following issues with permanent departure of the immediately preceding tenant-registered customer from the premises. The ERC’s  Magna Carta spells out the basic rights and obligations of residential electricity consumers.

The first draft of the proposed Amendments to the Magna Carta was subjected to expository presentations (EPs) in January 2010, one in Cebu City for the Visayas and Mindanao-based electric distribution utilities (DUs) and another in Manila for the Luzon-based DUs.  These EPS was followed by a formal public consultation hearing (PC) in February 2010.  This second draft has incorporated already considered comments, suggestions, observations and inputs gathered  during the EPs and PC held in the early part of the first quarter of 2010.

“The public is highly encouraged to scrutinize and provide comments on the proposed Amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers to ensure that the policies contained therein are finely tuned and highly responsive in terms of the protection of the long-term consumer interests.  Comments will be entertained only up to 25 June 2010.  We like to reiterate to the general public that the effectiveness of ERC’s policies greatly rely on the participation  of responsive and responsible electricity consumers,” ERC Chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut concluded. 

 

June 23, 2010

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