ERC seeks changes to bill deposit rules

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is working on the revisions on bill deposit rules as opposed to findings of Office of the Ombudsman for its three-month suspension order on the four commissioners.

In a statement, the ERC commissioners said there was no basis for the Office of the Ombudsman’s suspension order against them, pointing out there has never been any neglect of duty on their part.

The power regulator has put in place regulations regarding bill deposits. These measures include the Magna Carta of the Rights of Electricity Consumers (MREC) where the consumers are granted the right to demand the return of the deposit, and the distribution utilities cannot ignore the said demand.

The ERC is working on the review of the existing policies for bill deposits, according to the commissioners.

After considering all the comments submitted, the ERC issued the second draft of “Rules to Govern the Monitoring and Reporting Process of Bill Deposits” and sought anew inputs from interested parties.

In the intervening period, several letters/communications were exchanged between the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Undersecretary Pete Ilagan (also affiliated with NASECORE) to update them on the progress of the public consultations.

ERC has also scheduled a series of public consultations from March to May for the revisions of the bill deposits’ guidelines.

“In this light, we continue to work towards resolving issues and concerns as well as anticipate needed reforms within our sphere of responsibility. Rest assured, we remain steadfast in our commitment to diligently execute our mandate with utmost professionalism and integrity,” they said.

Last week, the ombudsman ordered the three-month suspension of ERC commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana for failing to act on the misuse of bill deposits by distribution utilities (DUs).

The Office of the Ombudsman said the four commissioners continuously refrain from strictly implementing rules defining the nature of bill deposits as “mere guarantee in payment of bills” which must be returned upon termination of the DUs’ service.