ERC calls on public to comment on proposed new requirements

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is inviting all interested parties to make their respective comments on the proposed Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.

ERC Chairman Zenaida Ducut said that these comments shall be submitted to their office on June 25, 2010, either in soft copy or in a hard bound copy.

Under the proposed draft, the ERC promulgates an amendment that bill deposit shall mean the deposit required from customers by distribution utilities of new and/or additional service, as well as from disconnected customers of electric cooperatives who were previously not subject to bill deposits.

The bill deposit, according to the proposal, shall be equivalent to the estimated billing for one month to guarantee payment of bills.

The proposed amendment also states that all applicants for electric service must submit a written application with supporting documents such as valid identification and barangay clearance, among others.

These proposed amendments are for several provisions especially those related to the requirements before an applicant can avail of the services by power distributors.

Meanwhile, the ERC, in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Energy Council of the Philippines, is sponsoring a special category in the essay writing contest that will revolve around the theme: “The Role of the Youth: In Tackling the Challenges of the New Energy Future”.

Along with the competition for the main theme are competitions in two special categories. One category is “Clean Energy Solutions” while the other is “Strategic Measures in Ensuring Success of a Competitive Electricity Market,” which the ERC will sponsor.

The ERC, in a statement, said that the contest organizers aim to farm from the youth their ideas and concepts on how best the next generation can help tackle the problems bugging the energy sector in order to make the future of the youth “brighter.” — THE FREEMAN