The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) has expressed its willingness to assist the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in addressing the consumer complaints against some electric cooperatives (ECs) over electricity bills.
In a statement, PHILRECA Executive Director and General Manager Janeene Depay-Colingan assured the government regulatory agencies including ERC that it is monitoring the full compliance of the 121 electric cooperatives (ECs) to their issuances and advisories.
“The sooner we can resolve these complaints, the happier and more satisfied our consumers would be.”
“As the umbrella organization and legitimate representative of the collective voices of the 121 electric cooperatives, we assure our regulators that we are monitoring the compliance of our member-electric cooperatives to their issuances and advisories in as far as ensuring the welfare of our MCOs to the best that we can,” Depay-Colingan said.
“The soonest that we were made aware that there were complaints filed with the Commission, we have prompted our member-electric cooperatives to make a re-assessment of their compliance to advisories and other issuances from government regulatory offices as well as to check if there are pending consumer concerns that remained unacted upon,” the PHILRECA official added.
The organization also pointed out that it has requested for the details of the consumer complaints as early as July 2 after the ERC made a report at the House Committee on Energy hearing on the spike in electricity bills during the quarantine period.
It also made a follow-up request on July 6 after the ERC revealed during the Senate Committee on Energy hearing that it received more than 47,000 complaints from consumers regarding their electricity bills.
The ERC revealed during the Senate Committee on Energy hearing that it received more than 47,000 complaints from consumers.
“In the interest of exigency and public service, it is our fervent hope that the ERC would provide us the details of those complaints the soonest possible so that we can assist the Commission in calling the attention of the concerned ECs for clarifications or actions that need to be done. The sooner we can resolve these complaints, the happier and more satisfied our consumers would be,” PHILRECA said.
The organization also assured that it is one with the government in ensuring access to quality electricity distribution service for the 13 million member-consumer- owners (MCOs) of the 121 ECs.
“Our advocacy does not revolve in merely achieving total electrification, but more importantly, in improving the quality of life of the MCOs and providing sustainable development in their communities,” it added.