Meralco and ERC are strange bedfellows! Meralco is a business concern while ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) is a government regulatory agency. If you will analyze the matter closely, you will realize that everything Meralco does, from passing the systems loss charges to its consumers, from passing operational expenses and even taxes to its customers, are all approved by ERC. This becomes confusing because ERC, being a government agency, in principle, should be protecting the energy consuming public, from abuses of a monopoly. But, the sad fact, ERC seem to be collaborating with Meralco in abusing its customers! If this is the case, why is the government acting only now? Is there a hidden agenda in this Meralco noise? Will the government make one of its agencies (ERC) answerable?
The chairman of ERC, ex. Cong. Rodolfo Albano said that only Congress is to blame. Congress, both the Senate and the lower House, made the EPIRA Law and the ERC simply implements the law. In short, for the high electricity rates, blame the government! Now, if the government is the cause of high electricity rates..."where will the people run to...?"
Pity the consunming public, they have no place to go! Conclusion: don't expect any respite from the high electricity rates! "Everything is legal and with approval of the law!"