SURIGAO del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers today supported the call of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for the Energy Regulatory Commission to penalize erring power distributors that over contracted power supply.
“The call to penalize power distributors that overcontracted power supply and imposed the costs to consumers is a good call. But imposing fines on their mismanagement is not enough. They should be made to refund to the consumers who paid for electricity that they never used. The refund can come as discounted billings spread over a certain period,” Barbers said.
“In Surigao del Norte, we have been experiencing the same problem for years now. Napakataas po ng electricity rates doon. This seemingly becoming trend or practice has to stop and the ERC should do something about it ASAP,” Barbers added.
Further according to Barbers, the fines that must be imposed should not be a “mere slap on the wrist “to avoid repeated violations.
“It is indeed rubbing insult to injury. The ERC should immediately dig deep in its investigations and take action to protect the consumers,” Barbers said.
