SC urged to cite Meralco in contempt

MANILA, Philippines - Militant group Bayan on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to cite in contempt power distributor Manila Electric Co. for charging its customers P58-million for a rate hike that is still covered by a temporary restraining order.

"Meralco's inclusion of the hike in its most recent monthly bill affected 37,000 consumers. Had it not been for consumer vigilance, Meralco would have gotten away with blatantly violating the SC TRO," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said. 

Reyes said Meralco should refund to its customers the amount it collected prior the issuance of the TRO by the High Court on December 23 last year.

"Meralco was able to collect a P2.00/kWh (per kilowatt hour) rate adjustment before the TRO was issued. The amount remains with Meralco according to their customer hotline," he added.

He noted that the Energy Regulatory Commission should also deny the request of Meralco for a provisional authority to hike power rates again by P4.5606/kwh for its December 2013 generation charge.

"Meralco has filed a petition for a rate hike last February 14 after the SC declared that December generation charges were not covered by the TRO. A provisional authority will allow Meralco to increase rates even before the ERC concludes its hearings and the merits of the case decided. A provisional authority will also preempt the SC ruling on a pending petition related to the rate hike," Reyes said.

Bayan will file its intervention next week before the ERC office in Pasig City.