WESM price ruling to make consumers pay P17B

The ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) to void high prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) from November to December 2013 would result in the passing on of charges totaling P17 billion to consumers in Luzon, a consumer group warned on Wednesday.

Once the verdict takes effect, a typical household would pay an average of P700 on top of its monthly electricity bill, while commercial and manufacturing establishments can expect hikes of P10,000 and P350,000, respectively, CitizenWatch Convenor Tim Abejo said in a statement.