Shahanis file petition vs P’sinan power coop, ERC

URDANETA CITY, Philippines   â€“ Pangasinan sixth district board member Ranjit Ramos Shahani and his mother, former senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, filed yesterday a petition against the Pangasinan III Electric Cooperative (Panelco) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) over what they described as an “incredible, whimsical, and unjust” power rate increase in December last year.

In their 20-page petition filed before the prosecutor’s office, the Shahanis and Rogelio Arcioso, vice president of the Federation of Consumers Association of San Nicolas and a Panelco subscriber, criticized the electric cooperative for the power rate increase of P5 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) and the ERC for approving the hike.

They said Panelco’s and ERC’s actions violated the public’s right to due process. They alleged the rate increase, unless stopped, would cause suffering and injury to the power consumers. 

Panelco supplies power in the towns situated in the eastern part of the province.

In December last year, the Panelco board of directors approved a resolution adopting a staggered payment scheme for the rate increase. The scheme was never followed as Panelco decided to collect the P5 per kwh increase at one time.

The power rate increase was included in the billing for the months of December 2013 and January and would reportedly continue, unless the court acts on the matter, the complainants said.