IF NOT FOR the public outrage, the people would not have known the truth behind the laws primarily designed to alleviate poverty.
For one, power supply is essential. In Metro Manila and adjoining provinces, consumers were made to believe that what they’re paying corresponds to their monthly consumption.
However, a closer look at the Meralco billing statement proved otherwise. We’re not just paying for our actual consumption. We’re made to shoulder a long list of concerns that we have nothing to do with.
We’re actually made to bankroll a government program referred to in the Meralco billing statement as the “lifeline subsidy” rate. We’re also made to share the burden of funding senior citizen discounts and renewable energy initiatives.
The lifeline subsidy rate under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) of 2001 is automatically collected to raise funds for both the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the costs incurred by marginalized power consumers.
According to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), senior citizens are getting a five percent discount (as provided under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) if their monthly consumption does not go over 100 kilowatt-hour, while 4Ps beneficiaries consuming 50 kWh per month are spared from paying.
As if these burdens aren’t enough, Meralco also charges its consumers the feed-in tariff (Fit-All) and green energy auction allowances. It’s not our job to entice investments into renewable energy.
A “universal charge,” in accordance with Epira, is also collected to finance missionary electrification (providing power to remote, off-grid areas), watershed rehabilitation as well as the debts and other obligations of the National Power Corp (Napocor).
Consumers are actually paying for rural electrification and the humongous debt of Napocor. Guess what, we’re also made to shoulder the cost of rehabilitating watersheds which have been destroyed on the guise of “progress.”
We’re also paying for Meralco’s losses due to pilferage.
All these — plus the government taxes — made the Philippines top number one in Southeast Asia’s list of countries with the most expensive electricity.
The worst part of it — we’ve been made to suffer (unknowingly) for the last two and a half decades.
By the way, isn’t Meralco supposed to return over 100 billion in its overcollection? Sadly though, the government isn’t eager enough to oblige the giant utility company to comply.
