Electric firm slammed for power rate hike

By Reynaldo G. Navales

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

MABALACAT -- Member-consumers of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (Pelco II) assailed the management of said electric firm for the sudden increase in power rates.

With most electric bills increasing by 100 percent this month, the consumers criticized the Pelco II management for not issuing prior notice for the said adjustments.

The Pelco II management increased the power rate from P8.70 to P10.20 per kilowatt-hour, a group of consumers said.

Pelco II Mabalacat Sub-station manager Mario Pangilinan declined to comment, saying he is not allowed to issue any statement regarding the decision of the management of the electric cooperative based in Guagua town.

However, Pangilinan furnished Sun.Star Pampanga a notice addressed to Pelco II customers regarding the Deferred Accounting Adjustment (DAAs) of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The Pelco II management stated in the notice that on March 26, 2012, the ERC issued an order regarding the DAAs for the Recovery of Incremental Fuel and Independent Power Producer (IPP) Costs under the 13th to 17th Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism and 15th to 16th Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment (Icera).

“Pursuant to the ERC decision, the National Power Corporation and Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management Corporation (Psalm) are authorized to recover the DAAs effective March 26 to April 25, 2012 billing period,” the Pelco II management stated.

“Further it (ERC decision) directed successor generation companies (SGCs) to provide assistance to the said government agencies in implementing the recovery/ refund of the DAAs and act as billing agents,” the electric cooperative added.

Pelco II, in compliance to the ERC order, implemented the adjustments of 0.6904 per kilowatt hour effective in the June 2012 billing period.

“Pelco II will also act as billing and collection agents from the end consumers,” the notice indicated.

Pangilinan said if consumers have questions/clarifications, they may contact the Pelco II main office at (045) 900 0611; 900 2650; 900 0850; 901 0534; and 9001294.    source

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on July 03, 2012.