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IPINAGTATAKA ng isang mambabatas kung bakit hindi nagagawang magbaba ng singil ng koryente ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco) kompara sa electric cooperatives sa mga probinsiya na nagagawang maningil ng mura at mas mababa.
Ito ang tanong ni Philippine Rural Electric Cooperative Association Inc. (Philreca) Rep. Presley De Jesus sa kanyang interpelasyon sa pagdinig ng House committee on legislative franchises ukol sa akusasyon na ang Meralco ay nagpapatupad ng monopolistic at monophonic practices.
“Indeed, we in the power bloc, this is what we’re focused on, the energy sector, so in economies of scale, just for comparison, we have electric cooperatives offering residential rates as low as P6.50 per kilowatt hour,” ani De Jesus sa pagdinig.
Ipinunto ni De Jesus, ilan sa mga kooperatiba na nag-aalok ng mababang power rate ay ang Pelco II, Casureco I, Perelco, Surceco I, at Neco 1 na ang alok na presyo ay mula P6.50 hanggang P8.00 kada kwh.
“If we compare to Meralco, these cooperatives are so small. Meralco holds essentially a mega franchise with the largest captive market,” dagdag ni De Jesus.
Batay sa pahayag ng Meralco sinisingil nila ng P12 kada kwh ang bawat customer nilang tinatayang 7.7 million subscribers ngayong 2023.
Noong 2022 ang mga customer ng Meralco ay kumukonsumo ng mahigit sa 48,000 gigawatt hours na ang 1 gigawatt ay katumbas ng 1,000 megawatts.
“With a wider customer base, we should be seeing a downward trend in electricity rates. The economies of scale normally lead to lower cost as the customer pays growth. Because of your size, because Meralco is so big, the economies of scale should be when you purchase big and your demand is big, your rates should be lower,” ani De Jesus.
Dahil dito, mukhang mayroong hiwaga sa mataas na singil ng koryente na dapat imbestigahan ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
“As the biggest distribution utility in the Philippines, (Meralco) is facing several inquiries regarding franchise and whether you are being faithful to the mandate attached to its grant,” paliwanag ni De Jesus.
Ipinunto ni De Jesus na lubha siyang nag-aalala sa napaulat na balak ng Meralco na palawakin pa ang sakop nito at sakupin ang ibang mga lugar na pinagsisilbihan ng smaller utilities.
“Meralco is being accused of monopolistic practices and yet you are still attempting to expand,” punto ni De Jesus batay sa tinuran ni Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez sa kanyang privilege speech.
Dahil dito, sinuportahan ni De Jesus ang panawagang rebisahin at hatiin sa tatlo ang prangkisa ng Meralco upang higit na makapagbigay serbisyo at bumababa ang singil sa koryente.
“I think it is imperative for us to review the grant of franchise to Meralco and open up the possibility of subdividing their franchise area. With Meralco having a service area of 38 cities and 78 towns nationwide, it fits the definition of a monopoly. If this further expands, there will be no more competition,” pagwawakas ni De Jesus. (NIÑO ACLAN)
