THE Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution urging the Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp) to grant a grace period or moratorium for poor consumers who cannot pay their three-month dues owing to the present economic hardships brought about by the pandemic by suspending disconnection of their electricity.

The resolution authored by Majority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez, took note of the observation of Councilor Teresa Coquia that barangay captains are being approached by their constituents pleading practically on bended  knees for financial help so they can pay a portion of their electric to avoid being disconnected by Decorp.

Saying that having no electric light in this time of the pandemic would be very excruciating for poor families, Coquia supported the resolution of Fernandez.

Fernandez said he’s aware that Decorp automatically disconnects the service when a customer cannot pay his or her dues for three consecutive months, so an appeal to Decorp for consideration is warranted.

Last week, Decorp was slammed by city residents protesting their higher electric bills in June, when the electric company billed a higher generation charge as a result of higher costs of power in Wholesale Electricity Sport Market (WESM).

That was the month when there was yellow and red alert in the Luzon grid caused by voluntary shut down of some power plants due to their preventive maintenance.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recommended to the city government to ask Decorp to request authority from the commission to adopt a staggered payment plan for customers to enable them to pay the generation charge over a few months to settle the bill in full.

Councilor Fernandez urged Vice Mayor Dean Bryan Kua to lead members of the Dagupan SP to present the resolution of the body to Decorp at its office on A.B. Fernandez Avenue West sometime this week.

Meanwhile, Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo proposed a resolution urging the city engineer’s office to study the possibility of installing solar panels at the top floor of the Malimgas Public Market that can generate enough power needed by establishments to save the city from paying high electricity bills. (Leonardo Micua)

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