Sinuportahan ni Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers ang panawagan ni Senador Sherwin Gatchalian sa Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) na singilin ang nagkamaling mga power distributor na nag-overcontract ng power supply.

Ayon kay Gatchalian, natuklasan sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Energy na mahigit sa 20 distribution utility ang nag-ooperate nang walang aprubado na power supply agreement o PSAs at naniningil ng lampas sa pinayagang generation rate. 

“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,” aniya.

“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,” dagdag ng mambabatas.

Idiniin naman ni Barbers na ang multa na sisingilin ay dapat hindi na “mere slap on the wrist” para maiwasan ang paulit-ulit na paglabag.

“It is indeed rubbing insult to injury. The ERC should immediately dig deep in its investigations and take action to protect the consumers,” aniya.