ERC hinilingan na magpatupad ng SAP para sa electricity consumers

Arra Perez, Posted at May 30 2020 12:05 AM
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/30/20/erc-hinilingan-na-magpatupad-ng-sap-para-sa-electricity-consumers

MAYNILA - Naghain ng petition sa Energy Regulatory Commission ang grupong Bayan at ilang grupo upang hilinging magpatupad ng social amelioration program para sa electricity consumers ng Meralco na apektado sa enhanced community quarantine sa Luzon.

Isa sa mga panukala ng petitioners ang pag-waive sa electricity bill ng households na may average monthly consumption na 200 kilowatt hour (Kwh) pababa.

Kasama din sa mga panawagan ay ang pag-waive ng singil para sa unang 200 kWh para sa households, na may average monthly consumption na higit sa 200 kWh hanggang 500 kWh.

Ayon kay Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes, dahil sa panahon ng lockdown ang saklaw ng kanilang hiling, papatak ito ng hindi bababa sa dalawang buwang halaga ng electricity bills.

Giit ng petitioners, kahit pa inutos na ng ERC ang staggered payment scheme o paunti-unting pagbayad ng electricity bills, mahirap ito lalo na para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho habang may community quarantine.

"Meralco on the average accounts for only 20 percent of the entire bill with the biggest share in the bill going to generation. Meralco rates are also socialized in structure as those consuming 100 kwh and below are given subsidies ranging from 20 to 100 pct. There is also an entire supply chain, we all need to consider as well, when deciding on matters such as what is being suggested because meralco is only one of the many entities included in the energy supply chain," ani Joe Zaldiarraga, spokesperson ng Meralco.

Sinabi ni Zaldiarraga na isa lang ang Meralco sa maraming dapat ikonsidera sa energy supply chain, at dapat itong isaalang-alang sa pagdesisyon sa mga ganitong hiling.

"In so far as assistance during this time of the pandemic, Meralco has also been actively helping the government and its various agencies in the fight against Covid19. Aside from donating PPEs (personal protective equipment), alcohol, and resources to frontline agencies and organizations, Meralco energized in support of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) several facilities converted to COVID centers, including World Trade Center, Rizal Memorial, and others. Further, in partnership with other corporations, Meralco committed to subsidize the electricity bills of these facilities while they are used as COVID centers," aniya.

Dagdag ni Zaldiarraga, aktibo ang Meralco sa pagtulong sa laban kontra COVID-19 pandemic.

Bukod sa pamamahagi ng PPE at health care items, Meralco rin ang magsa-subsidize ng electricity bills ng mga pasilidad na ginawang COVID faciltiies, tulad ng World Trade Center at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Sinabi ni ERC spokesperson Florisinda Digal, dadaan sa regular na proseso ng evaluation at due process ang hiling ng grupo.