The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has continued to handle consumer complaints by strengthening its Consumer Affairs Service despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the common complaints received by the ERC are high electrical bills or those that doubled or tripled during community quarantines, payments that were not reflected, and no-occupant billing.
Nograles said out of the 70,203 complaints received by the commission, 11,545 have been resolved while 58,548 have been acted upon in 2020.
“Kanilang inutusan ang mga delivery units na umaksyon agad expeditiously at i-explain at ipaliwanag at i-address ang mga reklamo ng mga consumers tungkol po diyan, at sinulatan din nila ang mga units na hindi nag-a-aksyon,” he said.
Nograles said 748 cases were also acted upon in 2020 through its online platforms, higher by 21% than the 617 cases in 2019.
“Tumaas din po ‘yung bilang ng mga orders, decisions, resolutions, notices at certificate of approval at authority na inisyu po ng PRC nitong 2020. Nagpatuloy po ang ERC sa pagko-conduct ng mga hearings at conferences sa pamamagitan ng mga virtual platform,” he said.
The ERC also directed 10 rate reduction schemes to ease the burden among consumers through lowering retail competition and open access (RCOA), and the refunding of over-recoveries and excess market transaction fees.
Based on the ERC’s year-end report, 25 capital expenditure (CAPEX) applications “were also decided by the commission,” including 23 distribution projects and two transmission projects.
“Ang mga ito ay nag-ensure na resilient po ang ating electricity network, ma-address ‘yung challenges ng climate change, at mapanatili ang continuous, secure, efficient and reliable service to all end users,” Nograles said. – AG-rir
