THE new head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said he has opened the ERC’s meetings to the public to make the agency more transparent.
ERC chair Francisco Saturnino Juan said he also aims to make the public more informed about how power rates are set as well as other issues tackled by the agency.
Juan said he has also initiated the revision of a number of ERC rules to speed up the resolution of cases filed in the agency.
“So, kasabay ng aming pagrirebisa sa aming mga patakaran ay tinitingnan din namin kung paano na mapagalaw at nang sa ganoon ay madesisyunan iyong mga nakabinbin na mga kaso sa amin,” the official said.
The official noted the need to revisit the rules, particularly for setting distribution rates, which he hopes will streamline the ongoing review process. He hopes that these changes will establish a clear procedure that will allow the ERC to complete hearings, deliberations, and final decisions before the start of the utilities’ next regulatory period.
Juan said a similar review is underway for electric cooperatives, which the ERC hopes to complete within the year or early next year.
“Kinakailangan na rin talagang irebisa iyong kasalukuyang pinaiiral na rules para sa kanila at nang makapagkaroon na tayo ng reklasipikasyon sa kanila at maaaring makapagtakda na tayo ng bagong singil para sa ating mga electric cooperatives sa loob ng madaling panahon. Kung pupuwede nga ay sa loob ng taong ito or kaya ay early next year,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)
