Lawmakers want SC to cite Meralco for contempt

Business World Online
Posted on March 17, 2014 10:06:18 PM 

THE MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) should explain to the Supreme Court (SC) why it should not be cited for contempt for allegedly charging customers the disallowed power rate increase, party-list lawmakers said yesterday. 
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc, in a nine-page omnibus motion, said the high court should "require... Meralco to show cause why it should not be cited in contempt for charging and collecting from consumers the P4.15 restrained by this Honorable Court in violation of the TRO (temporary restraining order)." 
Presented as proof that Meralco violated the high court’s TRO, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Jr. complained that his February bill format had a "total amount due" which included the deferred charges. 
"The total amount due was in bold font and can, and did, mislead consumers into believing that the total amount due, as is usually the case, is the amount they should pay Meralco," the motion stated. 
"As a result of this Meralco scheme, customers were led to pay the generation charges subject of the TRO," it added. 
The billing format "subverted the TRO" the SC ordered and allegedly caused at least 37,000 consumers to pay the restrained amount. Asked to comment, Meralco Spokesperson Joe R. Zaldarriaga said in a text message: "We have not received a copy of the motion reportedly filed but our position or Meralco’s position is we have faithfully complied with the TRO issued by the Supreme Court." 
Through the TRO, Meralco’s P4.15-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase was ordered shelved until April 22. 
The high court last month extended the stay order which was first issued on Dec. 23. The stay order covers the P4.15/kWh increase for the November supply month, implementation of which was supposed to be staggered in the December, February and March bills. 
The high court also barred generating companies from collecting the deferred amounts. The Supreme Court is set to rule on the lawsuit filed by consumer groups and party-list lawmakers questioning Meralco’s hefty rate increase. 
The Energy Regulatory Commission, on the other hand, voided the November and December prices at the electricity spot market, saying the rates during the period "could not qualify as reasonable, rational and competitive." 
Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT). 
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