Press Release
PRESS RELEASE (November 22, 2010)
POWER transparency advocate Vicente "Tet" Gambito yesterday urged the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco)
By Elias O. Baquero
POWER transparency advocate Vicente "Tet" Gambito yesterday urged the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) to tell its consumers how much its power rates increase will be until 2013, which is already approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Gambito, Cebu Chapter president of the Metro Manila-based National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform (Nasecore), said during the public hearing conducted by the Cebu City Council, Veco confrmed it will increase power rates next year when the contracts between the National Power Corp. (NPC) and some power providers end.
Nasecore has been recognized by ERC in several public hearings on power rate increases in the past years.
PRESS RELEASE (September 15, 2010)
Meralco overcharged consumers by P14 billion in 5 1/2 years – Nasecore
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated September 15, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Power utility giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has overcharged its customers by P14.2 billion in a span of five-and-a-half years, according to a consumer advocacy group.
In a letter to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) said the computed amount is based on Meralco's financial statements showing an accrued over-collection of P14.2 billion from June 2003 to December 2008.
"Our finding is based on this honorable commission's decision dated March 20, 2003 granting Meralco's revenue requirement of P20.1 billion (net of purchased power cost) in the latter's rate unbundling application," Nasecore president Pete Ilagan said.
Nasecore noted that in ERC's order, it modified Meralco's total rate base to P76.84 billion. Furthermore, Meralco's return was increased from 12 percent to 15.5 percent.
PRESS RELEASE (January 02, 2010)
PLUG POWER RATE HIKE LOOPHOLE
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:19:00 01/01/2010
BOTH THE MANILA ELECTRIC Company (Meralco) and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) recently filed before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) a petition for power rate increases. If consumers just sit back in submission, they can brace themselves for another round of power rate increases in 2010.
In April 2009, the ERC, in a consolidated resolution, approved an increase of P0.267/kWh or a new rate of P1.227/kWh for Meralco (ERC Case Nos. 2008-004RC and 2008-018RC) from its former average price of P0.96/kWh. However, the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) questioned this ERC decision in a Petition for Review filed with the Court of Appeals (CA-GR SP No. 108663).
PRESS RELEASE (November 26, 2009)
ILLEGAL ANG PAGPUTOL NG KURYENTE
IKAW AT ANG BATAS
Ni Atty. Jose C. Sison
Pilipino Star Ngayon
November 26, 2009
KASO ito ng Meralco at ng biyudang si Gilda. Mula nang mamatay ang asawa niya noong Oktubre 1990, patuloy na nanirahan si Gilda, ang kanyang anak na babae, limang apo at isang katulong sa bahay nila sa Calumpit, Bulacan. Pareho pa rin ang kontrata ng serbisyo nila sa Meralco mula noong nabubuhay pa ang kanyang asawa hanggang kahit sa namatay na ito. Ang konsumo nila ng kuryente ay umaabot ng mula 578 hanggang 721 kwh o nagkakahalaga ng dalawa hanggang tatlong libong piso kada buwan. Ngunit noong Abril 16, 1999 hanggang Mayo 18, 1999, tumaas ang konsumo nila Gilda at naging P7,793.60 ang pinababayaran ng Meralco. Kaya napilitan si Gilda na magprotesta at humingi ng imbestigasyon at refund. Noong Hulyo 1999, nag-inspeksIyon ang Meralco, Malolos branch. Napag-alaman na sira ang metro. Pinalitan ang metro ngunit hindi binigyan ng refund si Gilda.
PRESS RELEASE (July 22, 2009)
NASECORE DEMANDS CONSUMERS’ EQUITY FROM MERALCO
National Association of Electricity Consumers and Reforms (NASECORE) yesterday demanded that the Manila Electricity Company should declare as consumer’ equity additional revenues derived from its rate increases of 25 centavos per kilowatt hour.
In the letter to the Energy Regulation Commission, Nasecore President Pete Ilagan said that the additional revenues estimated at P500 million per month are not additional investments by Meralco’s stockholders and should therefore be entered into Meralco’s capital accounts as “consumers’ equity”.
PRESS RELEASE (July 14, 2009)
NASECORE SEEKS ROLLBACK OF MERALCO RATES
The National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) has asked the Court of Appeals to reverse an order of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) allowing the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to increase its electricity rates.
In a petition, Nasecore, through its president, Pete Ilagan, also asked the CA to order Meralco to roll back its electricity distribution charges from its present P1.2280 per kilowatt-hour to the previous rate of P1.083/kWh.
PRESS RELEASE (May 25, 2009)
NASECORE ASKS ERC TO ORDER MERALCO TO REFUND THE P49.5 BILLION
IT ‘overcharged’ ITS CONSUMERS
A consumer group yesterday asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to order Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to immediately refund to its customers the amount of P49.563 billon which Meralco allegedly “overcharged” its customers from June 2003 to June 2006.
In a petition, the National Association of Electricity Consumers (Nasecore) for Reforms (NASECORE) said the amount represented the difference between the Meralco’s monthly generation charge and the generation rate of the National Power Corporation which was approved by ERC as the “benchmark” for Meralco’s electricity rates.
