Solon welcomes ERC measure promoting transparency in power charges
(The Provincial Government of Northern Samar facebook page)
TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar's 2nd District Rep. Edwin Ongchuan welcomed the recent move by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to strengthen monitoring and verification of transmission and ancillary service charges to safeguard consumers.
The ERC's action comes as Ongchuan, who is vice chair of the House Committee on Energy,
continued to voice his concern over the various charges that are being passed on to electricity consumers.
Through House Resolution No. 889, he called for a congressional review of line rental charges under the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rules and their effects on electricity rates across the country.
The resolution aims to examine how line rental charges are determined and passed on to consumers, especially electric cooperatives and households already burdened by high electricity costs.
It also requests a review to determine whether the current framework aligns with the consumer protection goals of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.
The ERC's latest order supports Rep. Ongchuan's ongoing efforts for increased accountability in electricity pricing.
During the August 5 hearing of the House Committee on Energy, he also pressed the ERC on the possibility of immediately lowering system loss charges under its current authority while Congress works toward their eventual elimination.