MANILA ELECTRIC CO. (Meralco) said Tuesday that the pending extension of the lifeline power rate subsidy will have no effect on the distribution utility, as the subsidy is paid for by all consumers.
On Monday, the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill that extended the lifeline subsidy rate for households consuming less than 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per month. If passed into law, the extension will run until 2031.
“Regarding the lifeline rate subsidy extension, Meralco will defer to the wisdom of the legislators. While the scheme benefits households who cannot afford to pay the full cost of electric service, their discounts are funded by other customers who have to shoulder the rate add-ons,” according to a quote provided by Meralco’s media relations office via Viber Tuesday, attributed to both the company’s Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga and Meralco Head of Utility Economics Lawrence S. Fernandez.
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SunStar File January 18, 2021 IF PROVEN that Visayan Electric (Veco) was charging its consumers high cost of electricity, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should demand a refund from the power company, said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
“Kung mapapatunayan na hindi makatwiran ang singil ng Veco, dapat ibalik nila ang binayad ng mga kunsyumer. Mandato ng ERC na protektahan ang interes ng publiko lalo na kung may pang-aabuso ngang nagawa (If it will be proven that Veco committed a violation, it should refund the consumers. It is in the mandate of the ERC to protect the public s interest especially if there is really abuse),” Gatchalian said
Aboitiz, San Miguel leading power generators in Ph on January 18, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Aboitiz Power Corporation remains the country’s top power generating firm, closely followed by San Miguel Corporation, based on the latest data from the Department of Energy (DOE).
The DOE, in its 37th Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Implementation Status Report, said that AboitizPower has the largest market share in terms of generating capacity nationwide from May to October 2020, with 4,973 megawatts (MW) or 21.2% of the 23,410MW total installed capacity. San Miguel followed with 4,856MW or 20.7%. Lopez-run First Gen Corporation came in at third with 3,568MW or 15.2%.
On a per grid basis, San Miguel is Luzon’s biggest power generator with 4,556MW (28.4%) of the 16,044MW total capacity, followed by AboitizPower at second with 3,402MW (21.2%), and First Gen at third with 2,518MW (15.7%).
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