ERC chief attends Senate probe on power rate hike

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Cruz-Ducut appeared at Wednesday's Senate investigation on the power rate increase which will be implemented by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) starting this month.

Ducut said the ERC is also worried over the power rate hike and it is taking actions to know the truth behind the allegations hounding the increase in electricity rates.

"Tulad po ninyo, hangad din po naming maparusahan ang mga mapapatunayan nagkasala at maipabalik sa kanila ang labis nilang nasingil," Ducut said during the televised Senate probe.

The ERC recently approved Meralco's P4.15 per kilowatt-hour rate hike, which is due to the increase in generation charges triggered by the scheduled maintenance shutdown of Malampaya natural gas platform.

Ducut and her agency have been criticized for approving the increase while alleged collusion among power plants have also been reported in the media.

In a report by another broadsheet last Monday, Ducut was tagged as a conduit of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam.