Rep. Dan Fernandez, vice chairman of the House committee on energy, also wrote the Office of the Solicitor General – the designated government counsel in cases brought before the appellate courts – to appeal the case in ERC’s behalf. MANILA, Philippines — An official of the House of Representatives called on the Energy Regulatory Commission to elevate to the Supreme Court a December 2023 Court of Appeals ruling that could pave the way for higher power rates to the detriment of consumers.
In a letter received by the OSG on May 2, he asked Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra to elevate the case to the high tribunal, as it involved the collection of higher power rates that would further burden consumers already paying one of the world’s highest electricity bills. In his letter to the OSG, Fernandez pointed out that two power plants owned by one of the country’s largest conglomerates San Miguel Corp. , through Ilijan and Sual , is “seeking to supply emergency power to Meralco.”
“This is of major concern to my constituents and all other Filipinos, as it seems that San Miguel has simply substituted a contract that paid it cheaply for electricity for exactly the same contract, but this time with a much higher price,” a portion of the letter read. He said he is of the opinion that the ERC cannot just approve another PSA between SMC and Meralco without filing an appeal of the CA’s December 2023 ruling with the SC for final judgment.
An administration lawmaker has filed a bill in the House of Representatives that aims to provide each day care worker...