Solon to re-file measure to repeal EPIRA to address constant power rates

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano today denounced the latest power rate hike imposed by power distributor Meralco. The 5.8 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) will translate to P5.80 additional charge for customers consuming 100 kWh per month and P11.60 for those consuming 200 kWh.

“This increase is totally unacceptable and unjustified given the continued power interruption and rotating brownouts in Meralco-serviced areas in Metro Manila and Luzon.”

“High power rate is one of the major issues needed to be addressed by Aquino’s administration. The new government must find a way to impose state control in the power industry and reverse the ill-effects of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) that authorized frequent rate adjustments by IPPs and power distributors. EPIRA is a burden left by the Arroyo administration and it is Aquino’s duty to do away with this anti-consumer policy.

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The solon challenged President Aquino to stop Meralco’s power rate hike. “The close ties between Aquino and the Lopezes must not stand in the way of upholding the people’s clamor for lower power rates.

“This situation all the more justifies the urgent need to repeal EPIRA which made our electricity prices one of the highest in Asia,” Mariano added saying he will re-file the measure in the 15th Congress. “As a Senator, Noynoy voted no against EPIRA, now it is time for him to advocate EPIRA’s repeal.”

No to new power rate hikes

From the period of April to May, the power distributor imposed a P1.20 per kWh power rate hike despite strong objection from consumers.

For the latest round of increase, Meralco attributed the rate hike to the increase in the cost of power from their independent power producers (IPPs).

“Like in previous increases, Meralco will again make excuses that they do not earn anything from the generation charges and they are only implementing ‘pass on charges’ but the two IPPs – Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo gas plants are both operated by the First Gas Corp., a subsidiary of the Lopez Group of Companies. Meralco may never admit, but they are the first to benefit from successive power rates.”

Mariano said Anakpawis will continue with the ‘Paid under Protest’ campaign to show the consumers’ opposition to the power rate hike.

Aside from the Meralco power rate hike, the National Power Corporation (Napocor) filed a petition to increase nationwide rates by P0.24 per kWh in Luzon, P0.41 in the Visayas, and P0.51 in Mindanao. Napocor said it needs to recover over P573.09 million in foreign exchange cost and P3.82 billion in fuel and independent power producer cost incurred from January to April. (PINOYPRESS.NET)