ERC to explain proposed revision on power theft law

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission is set to conduct an expository presentation in Cebu City on January 7 on the amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7832 otherwise known as the “Act Penalizing the Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Power Transmission Lines/Materials, Rationalizing System Losses by Phasing Out Pilferage Losses as a Component thereof and for Other Purposes.”

ERC chairperson and chief executive officer Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut is expecting that stakeholders will actively participate in the expository presentations in Cebu City for distribution utilities located in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The IRR of R.A. 7832 or the “Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994” was promulgated by the then Energy Regulatory Board in July 1995.

Since then, ERC said that a number of Supreme Court decisions have been made interpreting its different provisions, prompting the ERC to adopt several policies to clarify the IRR.

The ERC deems it necessary to amend some provisions of the IRR in order to incorporate the policy changes, Ducut said.

The proposed amendments include, among others, new policies and principles to clarify concerns on issues like who can be charged of a violation under the said Act, the procedures and allowed number of apprehensions, the determination of the proper party liable to pay with the manner of computation and payment of differential bills, and the disconnection procedures and imposition of surcharges.

The expository presentation will be held at Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other issues that will be tackled include the amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Consumers and Rules Governing the type approval of meter products. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB (THE FREEMAN)