Group wants representation in power rate hike hearing

Sunstar Davao

By Jereco O. Paloma

AN ELECTRICAL consumer's group has petitioned before the Davao Light and Power Company Inc. (DLPCI), seeking to participate in the public hearing regarding a pending application for rate increase by the DLPC from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

In a letter of request to DLPC's Chief operating officer Arturo Milan, Wenifredo Gorrez, president of National Association of Electric Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore) Davao chapter, expressed his interest to participate in the public hearing of whatever will be the nature of DLPC's application.

Gorrez was referring to an on-going application by the DLPC docketed in ERC case 2011-0048RC, which is scheduled for hearing on May 24, 2011.

"We would like to participate in this hearing so as to enable us to know the reason for the application which, when approved by ERC, will affect the consumers as it will introduce a new round of increase," Gorrez said in the letter.

They also requested copies of DLPC's application with the ERC with all of the annexes, pre-trial briefs, expository presentations, as well as the firm's annual reports in years 2004-2009, and other documents.

"Should DLPCI deny us these request, we will be led to become suspicious that its application is not all justified," he wrote.

Efforts to get the comment of Milan proved futile as of Monday.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on May 17, 2011.