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STATE-RUN Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said its
campaign to reduce power rates in economic zones will continue
despite a case filed by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) seeking to
bar the agency from regulating distribution utilities in these
areas.
Lilia B. de Lima, PEZA director general, said
the government will continue to work on lowering power costs in
economic zones while the issue with Meralco awaits resolution.
“We have reduced the rates in Cavite and
Bataan by P0.15 and P0.20 per kilowatt hour effective January, as we
have unbundled. We’re working with two other economic zones,”
she said.
She said state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor)
has implemented a P0.02 to P0.04 per kilowatt-hour discount for
businesses with big demand in economic zones Meralco serves.
“There is no delay in the giving of discounts
in economic zones,” she added.
Although Meralco has yet to withdraw its case
against PEZA, De Lima expects this to be resolved within the next
week or so after the Department of Energy completes consultations
with all industry stakeholders.
Meralco, along with the Private Electric Power
Operators Association (PEPOA), earlier filed a case before the Pasig
Regional Trial Court seeking to clarify the Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (ERC) jurisdiction over distributors in light of
PEZA’s campaign to bring down rates in economic zones.
The petition was filed after PEZA required
distribution utilities serving economic zones in Bataan, Cavite,
Baguio and Cebu to register with the agency to pass on more than a
P1 per kilowatt-hour cut in electricity rates to locators.
The discount was aimed at providing businesses,
specially electronics firms, a reprieve from the high rates.
Jesus P. Francisco, Meralco president, said that
“regardless of who regulates the rates, prices will remain high if
generation rate[s] continue to remain high.”
He said the Lopez-controlled company is
proposing to pass on its lowest-cost sourced power to specific
customers to reduce their electricity costs.
“What we suggest and if allowed by the ERC,
for target group of customers, we will pass through the lowest
source of power, [wherever] it is [sourced] –it can be Napocor for
one month, First Gas, Quezon Power or whoever,” he said.
He added that although the company cannot commit
a fixed rate every month, the government can help businesses by
identifying which should qualify under the program.
“Identifying the qualified parties could be
done by [the] Department of Trade and Industry,” he said.
-- Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo
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