ERC wraps up changes in Magna Carta for consumers

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is finalizing the revised rules of the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.

The ERC said it is now going over the last set of comments on the rules before issuing the final revised guidelines on consumer rights.

“The ERC is seeking final comments on the second draft of the proposed revisions to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers towards the finalization of the innovative bill of rights,” it said.

The power sector regulator said the second draft has been made available since June 8 at www.erc.gov.ph. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected].

The ERC developed amendments to the previously issued Magna Carta in order to synchronize it with the amended Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR) promulgated on Feb. 22, 2010.

The amended Magna Carta aims to clarify and simplify provisions relating to the: filing of protests, high billings, transfer and termination of electric service, bill deposits, billing errors, and procedure protecting succeeding tenants following issues with permanent departure of the immediately preceding tenant-registered customer from the premises.

The ERC’s Mag-na Carta spells out the basic rights and obligations of residential electricity consumers.

The first draft of the proposed amendments to the Magna Carta was subjected to expository presentations (EPs) in January 2010, one in Cebu City for the Visayas and Mindanao-based electric distribution utilities (DUs) and another in Manila for the Luzon-based DUs. 

These EPS was followed by a formal public consultation hearing (PC) in February 2010. 

The second draft has incorporated already considered comments, suggestions, observations and inputs gathered during the EPs and PC held in the early part of the first quarter of 2010.

“The public is highly encouraged to scrutinize and provide comments on the proposed amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers to ensure that the policies contained therein are finely tuned and highly responsive in terms of the protection of the long-term consumer interests. Comments will be entertained only up to June 25, 2010, “ERC chairperson Zenaida Ducut said.

“We like to reiterate to the general public that the effectiveness of ERC’s policies greatly rely on the participation of responsive and responsible electricity consumers,” she added.