THE Power for People Coalition (P4P), an energy consumer advocacy group, on Sunday slammed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) for higher power rates it will impose on its customers for the month of June as consumers are already reeling from high fuel prices.
Meralco is set to increase prices by 39.82 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) due to higher generation charges brought about by higher fuel costs, adding P80 to the total bill of a household consuming 200 kWh per month, P119 for those consuming 300 kWh, and P199 for those consuming 500 kWh.
“Once more, consumers are being punished for the consequences of decisions made by Meralco to rely on fossil fuels instead of more affordable renewable energy. Rising costs of fuel, food, and other essentials demand decisive action on the part of the government to rein in the greed and incompetence of those who run our energy sector,” said Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.
The group has consistently argued for a greater share for renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to cushion the country from price shocks brought about by fluctuations in the price of imported fossil fuels such as coal and gas.
“The longer we delay the decision to transition to renewable energy, the longer consumers would be vulnerable from shocks in fuel prices brought about by things beyond our control. However, if distribution utilities like Meralco were to prefer renewable energy on its own, even without a directive from the government, then it can insulate its consumers from these shocks. Of course, that assumes that Meralco actually places consumer interests ahead of its own profits,” said Arances.
“We are not dealing with the inevitable. We can take action to minimize the effects of world events on our power supply costs. All we need is for the government and the energy sector to listen to reason and to see ordinary consumers as partners instead of milking cows,” said Arances.
