The Senate will conduct an investigation to probe the rising electricity cost and power outages experienced by consumers in the provinces.
This comes after Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Energy, filed the proposed Senate Resolution 107 on Monday that seeks to investigate the recurring power outages and blackouts and the rising cost of electricity amid the interruptions in the provinces.
He cited there is a “chronic” and “recurring” power outage and rotational brownouts in various provinces in Luzon for two years.
Tulfo also said he has been receiving tons of reports from regular consumers on social media, complaining about the unreasonable high electricity bill despite the power outages.
According to DZRH’s Raymund Dadpaas' report, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri also raised the high electric cost experienced by consumers in the provinces of Region 10 - Northern Mindanao during his privilege speech in Senate on Monday, Aug. 8.
Zubiri and his fellow Senators agreed to review Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) enacted in 2001.
The EPIRA law seeks to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of the supply of electric power; and ensure a transparent and reasonable price of electricity.
Zubiri asserted that the rate of Meralco in its franchises in Metro Manila is significantly lower compared to consumers charged from the provinces.
He said Metro Manila consumers are fortunate because they can complain to the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) or the Court whenever they have concerns with Meralco.
However, the senate president said consumers in the rural areas have no choice but to pay for their high electric bills. Otherwise, their electricity will be cut off.
During the plenary session, Senator Grace Poe said in her interpolation that the ERC must be summoned to a Senate hearing to determine how it addresses consumers' high electric bill problem.
While Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is hoping for the protection of electric cooperatives during the discussion on the review of EPIRA law.
Honviteros reasoned that she feared that private companies might enter the franchise area of the electric cooperatives, using poor service as an excuse to justify such action.
