SC wants 7 energy firms tagged in power rate hike case

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court en banc on Thursday ordered the inclusion of seven energy companies as defendants in the petition filed against the big-time power rate hike of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

The SC issued the order as it denied the Office of the Solicitor General's motion to exclude the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) from commenting on the petition filed by a group of party-list representatives of Congress called the Makabayan bloc.

In a three-page order signed by Clerk of Court Enriqueta Vidal, the high tribunal asked the party-list lawmakers to amend their petitions against the P4.15 per kilowatt hour Manila Electric Company (Meralco) rate increase and include the seven companies including: the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, SEM-Calaca Power Corp., Masinloc Power Partners Corp., Therma Luzon Inc., San Miguel Energy Corp., South Premier Power Corp., and Therma Mobile, Inc.

Read: Government a party in Meralco rate hike case

By tagging new respondents to the petition, the high court may look into the allegations of collusion among the power suppliers to force the big-time power rate hike starting December 9.

The representatives and counsels of the power firms were also required to attend the scheduled preliminary conference on January 13.

The Court said that the amended petition should be filed and served personally on the additional respondents by the same date.

The seven firms, however, may also file a formal manifestation before January 10 seeking to waive their right of participating in the oral arguments on January 21, the tribunal added.

The lawmakers said the six power players experienced "unplanned outages" during the Malampaya's unscheduled maintenance, forcing Meralco to source more expensive electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier ordered an investigation into allegations that the suppliers conspired to force Meralco to purchase more expensive electricity from the WESM.

Last December 23, the Supreme Court issued a 60-day temporary restraining order against the big-time power rate hike.