ERC warns public of counterfeit certificates

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has warned electric power stakeholders, particularly the qualified end-users, to be wary against falsified Certificates of Compliance (COC).

The caution was made in light of cases filed by two qualified end-users with the authorities against individuals who secured the fake COCs.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera, in a statement, said that their agency is currently coordinating with the law enforcers, who sought their help in tracking down the responsible persons for the production and issuance of the falsified COCs.

"We were able to confirm the allegation about the fake COCs after verifying our records,” she said.

Devanadera added that these unlawful acts have tainted the ERC itself and the integrity of its officials who are simply performing their duties.

"We encourage the public to report to the ERC or to the nearest police authorities any illegal act of any electric power industry participant to avoid proliferation of any kind of misconduct," she further said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the ERC has directed the Distribution Utilities (DUs) to submit documents pertinent to bill deposits of electricity consumers, within 15 days from receipt of the letters it issued.

ERC said that the data requested from the DUs are needed to update the ERC’s data on bill deposits for the calendar year 2018.

In particular, DUs were directed to submit the following: 1) the total amount of bill deposits collected from the effectivity of the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers (MREC) up to 31 March 2018; 2) the total amount of interest earned and credited to the registered customers for the same period; 3) the total amount of bill deposits and interest refunded to the consumers from the effectivity of MREC up to March 31, 2018; and 4) total balance of bill deposits inclusive of interest earned less amounts refunded to registered customers from the effectivity of MREC up to the said period.

With the upcoming inquiry by the House of Representatives, Devanadera added that there is a need to update the data on bill deposits utilization to address the issues and concerns on this matter. —

Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/GAN