(MANILA BULLETIN)

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate, in aid of legislation, the frequent red and yellow power alerts caused by the shutdown in several power plants.

Under House Resolution (HR) No. 1690, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel want to hold generation companies accountable over the constant power outages.

“It is imperative to conduct a thorough investigation into the actions of generation companies during plant failures, to determine the extent of their responsibility in the current energy crisis and to hold them accountable for any exploitative pratices that harm consumers,” the resolution read.

According to the militant solons, the Philippines has been experiencing “almost daily” red and yellow power alerts due to the forced shutdown of almost 50 power plants.

This results to instability in power supply, which leads to more costly electricity, the group said.

“There is a pressing need to shift the burden of higher power rates onto generation companies during outages, ensuring that they bear the cost of disruptions and preventing them from passing on these costs to consumers, thereby safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair practices in the energy sector,” the resolution continued.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issues a red alert when the power supply is deemed insufficient to meet the consumer demand.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert is raised when the operating margin is found to be insufficient.

The lawmakers also want the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to be held accountable over concerns that the ongoing energy crisis is being exploited to increase power rates.

HR No. 1960 pointed out that recent simultaneous forced outages of power plants is similar to previous energy crises, such as the events in 2013.

This indicates a “recurring issue that needs to be addressed promptly to protect consumers from unjust power hikes", Makabayan said.

Members of the progressive group also underscored the importance of enacting a piece of legislation that would prioritize consumer protection, address the root causes of the energy crisis, and implement measures that prevent the exploitation of power shortages for profit.