Power trippers

AS A MATTER OF FACT By Sara Soliven de Guzman (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 27, 2014 - 12:00am

Malacañang should definitely use its magic wand to solve our power crisis.  No one in this country can stop the greed of the key players of the power firms and energy officials but the President himself.  Not unless he or his men are part of the problem.

The unbelievable price hike was indeed a well-orchestrated move made by the energy players. And why didn’t any of the government officials stop it?  Why did they have to wait for the public to cry foul?  Isn’t it the job of the DOE and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation to protect us from any these monsters? Sanamagan!

Over the weekend, we learned that Meralco’s generation charge rose even higher this month compared to the December 2013 rate even when the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Luzon went online. So, who is telling the truth now? Is it the energy officials, Meralco or the power firms?

This problem has brought about so much stress to the lowly consumer who has to pay for the exorbitant generation charge amounting to 65% of his monthly electricity bill. Susmariosep! Did the generating companies make a deal with one another to manipulate power cost?

Our country is already suffering and we still have such imbeciles who have the nerve to rip us off.  I hope they all get electrocuted with karma.  Wow! I can’t believe that Meralco has the audacity to do such an act with its long tradition of serving the people fairly.  What happened?  Can we still trust them?

When GMA signed into law Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), it was with the intention to bring down electric rates and to improve the delivery of power supply to end-users by encouraging greater competition and efficiency in the electric industry. These reforms were aimed at making sure our country will have reliable and competitively priced electricity. The strategy is to put an end to monopolies that breed inefficiency, encourage the entry of many more industry players, and generate competition that will benefit consumers in terms of better rates and services.

But years have passed since GMA left her position, and here we are still faced with high electricity rates some call an unstoppable highway robbery. Where will this lead us? Perhaps it is indeed time to revisit the EPIRA law, examine its provisions, remove its weaknesses and replace them with those that would serve the welfare of the people. It’s really the president’s call now. Perhaps it is also about time for Congress to pass new legislation that will allow government to re-enter power generation with the primary responsibility of ensuring stable and affordable electricity for consumers.

My dad used to say that in this garrulous country, talk is too often mistaken for action. So much talking has been going on in government these past few months but action is yet to be seen and solutions to be felt by the people. Those with businesses that are primarily in the politically sensitive areas of media and public utilities, by this time, should have learned to be more adept in the games politicians and power brokers play.   source

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