No disconnection order ng ERC, unang hakbang para Meralco magwasto

PINURI kahapon ng Meralco consumers, sa pangunguna ng Power for People Coalition (P4P), ang  naging kautusan ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) na ipagpaliban muna ang ‘disconnection’ ng ‘non-paying customers’ hanggang sa katapusan ng taong 2020.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw, pinangunahan ng P4P ang ‘mass mobilization’ ng Meralco consumers sa mga  tanggapan ng distribution utility sa metropolis at mga karatig na lalawigan.

“We are grateful that clamor of Meralco’s long-suffering residential consumers delivered results in the form of Senator Risa Hontiveros’ question and the ERC’s answer. Once ERC delivers on its promise, it would give breathing space to all Filipinos who have to worry about their electric bills even as they battle the pandemic, online schooling for their children, and possible loss of their livelihoods. But of course, this is just the first step in dealing with the true issue: Meralco’s continuous overpricing and unfair billing practices,” pahayag ni Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.

Ang P4P ay kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng online petition campaign na may temang  #TigilBayad, kung saan hinihiling  ang pagkakaroon ng moratorium sa pagbabayad ng bills na inisyu sa panahon ng enhanced community quarantine(ECQ)  dahil sa di-makatarungang biglaang paglobo ng singil sa koryente, flexible payment scheme, at ang pagsasauli ng mga nakabinbing refunds, reporma sa Meralco billing practices, at independent audit ng mga distribution utility.

“There is an opportunity here to correct the wrongs that Meralco has done to consumers over the years. Meralco claims that generation companies are to blame for high electricity prices, even blaming the price of coal, but they are the ones who continuously insist on coal-based electricity and they even invest directly in coal. As always, Meralco wants to profit off consumers without accepting any responsibility,” giit ni Arances.

Nanawagan ang energy consumer advocates sa pagsasauli ng ± 28.5 billion in bill at meter deposits mula sa Meralco at agad na pagbabalik din ng ± 19 billion na unreturned funds mula 2003 refund order ng  Supreme Court.

“Meralco is sitting on literally billions of pesos. Billions which they extracted from consumers who don’t have the choice. There is no reason to go easy on them since they never went easy on consumers,” dagdag ng P4p convenor.