P4P sa SMC: Maging transparent sa petisyong taas-singil sa koryente 

PINAYOHAN ng Power for People Coalition ang San Miguel Corporation (SMC), na nagmamay-ari ng isa sa pinakamalaking generation companies sa bansa, na maging transparent sa petisyon nito kamakailan na taasan ang singil sa koryente sa lugar ng prankisa ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Sa paglalathala ng liham mula sa Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), sinabi ng energy consumer advocacy group, pinabulaanan nitong pumanig ang Regulatory Operations Service (ROS) ng ERC sa joint motion ng SMC at Meralco na itaas ang singil sa koryente na itinakda ng 2019 power supply agreements (PSA) sa pagitan ng dalawang kompanya.

“Since the ERC’s decision to deny the joint motion of SMC and Meralco, we have noted claims

popping up in the media that the decision was made against the findings of the ROS. The ERC has confirmed the claims of SMC and Meralco on price impacts were unaligned with computations of its ROS in many ways,” pahayag ni Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.

Ayon kay Arances tila nagbago ang tono ng mensahe ng SMC, matapos ipahayag ng kanilang pangulo at CEO Ramon Ang na ang conglomerate ay may sapat na pera upang makuha ang pagkalugi mula sa fixed price ng PSA.

“SMC said, without proof, that it lost P15 billion over the fixed-price PSAs which it is now trying to get rid of. After attempting and failing to pass on burdens to consumers, SMC is now saying that it will have P30 billion in windfall annually in the next two years as its amortizations for its Ilijan and Sual power plants are completed,” giit ni Arances.

Sinabi ng consumer energy advocate, ang posisyon ng SMC bilang isa sa pinakamalaking GenCo sa bansa at bilang publicly-held corporation ay kinakailangang maging tapat sa mga pahayag nito sa publiko.

“SMC stated its intention to join further PSA biddings. But right now, SMC seems unable or unwilling to uphold its commitments. Either way, SMC should not participate in such future biddings, at least until it comes out with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” dagdag ng P4P Convenor.