SP wants Panelco to issue rebates to customers

By May 4, 2014Business, News

LINGAYEN—Officials of the Pangasinan III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Panelco III) have again been invited by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to appear during its question hour on May 5 to discuss the still unresolved power rate hike implemented by the company in December 2013.

There is a pending case filed by former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani and a leader of a local consumers’ group before the Prosecutor’s Office in Urdaneta City for an injunction against Panelco’s alleged “incredible, whimsical, and unjust” power rate increase implemented in December last year.”

Sixth District Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani, son of the former senator and author of the resolution inviting Panelco III to another inquiry, said the board members intend to ask about a possible rebate to consumers.

“There is a need to look into the matter of rebates,” Shahani said.

Panelco officials appeared twice before the SP last January Jan. 20 and 27 to explain how the rate increase of P5.0279 per kilowatt hour was calculated based on an increase in power generation charges.

The increase was charged in the January 2014 billing of consumers.

Earlier, the Supreme Court stopped the Meralco and several generation companies from implementing their announced increase in generation charges and the Enregy Regulatory Commission directed Meralco to issue rebates to customers who paid the disallowed increase in generation charge.

Lawyer Julius Cesar Peralta, chairman of the board of directors of Panelco III, told board members then that rates were expected to go down by February. —Tita Roces

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