CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Energy Regulatory Commission imposed a penalty of P21,600,000 on the San Fernando Electric Light and Power Company Inc. (Sfelapco) even as it ordered it to refund P654,397,381.48 to its consumers.
The sanctions were embodied in the March 3 decision of the commission on ERC Case No. 2021-749 SC, ERC Case No. 2023-001 SC, and ERC Case No. 2023-002 covering various violations of ERC rules and regulations committed by Sfelapco from as far back as 2013.
Among these were the power distribution firm’s implementation of a power supply agreement with AP Renewables Inc. without approval from the commission, and its collection of generation charges in excess of the distribution utilities load-weighted average of NPC time-of-use from January 2013 to December 2022.
The ERC order has been hailed here as a “victory for the consumers.”
“Ito pong desisyon ng ERC ay panalo na kami. For the second time around, pumabor at nanalo ang mga Fernandinos dahil nalaman natin ang totoong sitwasyon,” exclaimed Mayor Vilma B. Caluag in a media conference at the Heroes Hall on March 14.
“This is a stroke of luck. Gusto lang natin na humingi ng tulong para labanan ang pagtaas nila ng singil pero mas malaki pa pala ang problema,” the mayor added.
Last January 26, Caluag and other city officials made representation with ERC chair Monalisa Dimalanta to ask the commission’s help in averting the 50% hike in power generation charges set by Sfelapco starting February.
She said city officials and residents were unaware of Sfelapco’s application for a power supply agreement with a new power generation company or its compliance with pre-filing requirements under ERC rules that include furnishing the San Fernando legislative council of its application for a new PSA.
While Caluag admits that the ERC decision is still not final and executory, she nonetheless vowed to see it through its conclusion.
“May mga legal consultants tayo para tumulong na maayos ito at ako bilang private individual ay hindi titigil hangga’t hindi matuldukan, manalo man o matalo,” she said. Punto News Team
