ERC Wants Discounted Electricity Rates for 4Ps Beneficiaries

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is planning a collaboration with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to go over and reform the beneficiaries list of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The 4Ps will be used as the basis for the subsidiary grant of discounted power rates. 

As mentioned by ERC Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera, the final list of beneficiaries who will be given lifeline rate subsidies under Republic Act 1152 will still be decided. Under the RA 1152, certain electricity consumers will be given discounts for a period extending 50 years. 

Chief Devanadera says that  “until such time that the DSWD has finalized the parameters or approved it, it will be difficult for ERC to make the computations,”

Currently, the arrangement between the DSWD and the ERC is to remove consumers from gated communities and condominiums from the lifetime list. 

“We did that with DSWD – the consumers shall be not residing in gated communities; they should not be in condos. We already have a draft and we already sent it back to DSWD, but that’s still a work-in-progress,” Chief Devanadera goes on to say. 

The law RA 1152 specifically states that “in order to provide assistance to electricity consumers, especially those living below the poverty line, and to achieve a more equitable distribution of the lifeline subsidy, a socialized pricing mechanism called a ‘lifeline rate’ for qualified marginalized end-users shall be set by the ERC.”

Also specified in the law is “the level of consumption, subsidy, and rate shall be determined by the ERC after due notice and hearing.”

The ERC is the regulator of the reorganized power industry and has been endowed authority to determine the subsidy rates of the qualified beneficiaries. 

Source: Manila Bulletin