Council calling on VECO to explain power charges

With the hullabaloo in Manila over the controversial systems loss charges implemented by the Manila Electric Company, the Cebu City Council is now calling on the Visayan Electric Company to explain the charges stipulated in the bill of payment for customers.

The council scheduled for a public hearing on August so that VECO can explain items such as life line consumer, systems loss, and subsidized rate and how many of the total number of VECO consumers have benefited from the said rate.

The council called for the public hearing following a privilege speech by Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the council committee on information technology.

In his speech, Cabarrubias said it is necessary for VECO to explain the items in the bill of payment because the terminology therein is very technical and very difficult for a layman to understand.

“As I go over electrical bill issued by the Visayan Electrical Company (VECO), charges and fees are reflected which are beyond laymen’s and marginalized sectors understanding. Thoughts have rallied in me, combating my spirit to understand those fees and charges,” Cabarrubias said.

Cabarrubias further said it is important that the public would fully understand the items in the bill of payment for them to know where their money would go, especially in these times of crises. 

“We live in a time of grave crisis. The economic, political and social wedges that divide our people have reached disturbing proportions… With the issues on Meralco, I find it timely to discuss and to share sentiments with our brothers and sisters in Luzon oozing under the passion on economic crisis, the electrical charges in particular,” Cabarrubias said.

Aside from this, the council is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission to find means to lessen charges and fees for usage of electricity.

Just recently, Meralco admitted charging up to 11 percent of its systems loss to its residential consumers.  — Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM