The Coal-Fired Power Plant

Hole of Justice

by Peter G. Jimenea

The Coal-Fired Power Plant!

Sen. Franklin Drilon is disgusted by the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granting the request of Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC)  to collect from city power consumers the losses it incurred during the initial stage of its operation amounting to P692 million.

This is a 360 degrees turn-around by PEDC and the Global Business Corporation (GBC) from their promised power reduction of P2 per kwh to consumers once its plant starts operation. As it turned out, liars they could only be!

The alleged P692M losses of the power plant during emission and other testing operation will be charged to consumers. This rate increase approved by the ERC will be slowly charged to the consumers which shall appear in the Panay Electric Company’s (PECO) monthly billings.

This is not what we think the ERC business is all about. Its decision is anti-poor. The approval of PEDC’s petition to collect its losses from power consumers is a clear injustice. We have nothing to do with that loss that rightfully belonged to them. Oh my, what is somewhat missing in the empty lives of these people is to die with dignity!

ERC officials should know that it is only for them and the stockholders of the coal-fired power plant that the petition was good. In business venture, losses are part of the risks that should be shouldered by the investors. It should be deducted from their paid-up capital invested, not from consumers’ pocket!

If losses as PEDC officials claimed are true, the consumers have nothing to do with it. We are only obliged to pay our monthly billings to PECO. So why charge us the P692M when we have never used that energy? Company’s profit and loss are parts of the ventures of investors, not of consumers!

The public perceived a collusion between PEDC and the ERC officials due to the delayed delivery of copy of the approved petition to the city government when it was already a done deal since December 2011. This reinforced the widespread belief that millions played a big role in this corruption tainted ERC decision.

Pragmatism tells us that no business venture is free from losses. Stockholders of GBC and their stooges understand this. But love-of-money propelled them to bleed more the poor with that petition reeking with domino theory. Yes, P.32 centavos increase today, another increase tomorrow and so on and so forth!

GBC and PEDC officials are overtly professing their covert undertaking. Lowly employees of the coal-fired power plant are most sorely tempted to cheat but don’t, what a shame. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus – he who has lied about one thing is most likely to lie about everything. (Ramos vs. CA, 188 SCRA 450).

It was only our misfortune that ERC officials have succumbed to temptation of greed. They approved that Under Recovery Collection of PEDC charging the poor consumers with electricity they have never used. This act is contra bonos mores - against good morals or contrary to sound established practice!

We have the right to oppose this unjust power charges approved by ERC crooks. Ubi jus ibi remedium – where there is right, there is remedy. (Gabita vs. Perez, 169 SCRA 517). If people are stripped naked of their rights as human beings, democracy cannot survive and government becomes meaningless. I’m sure Sen. Drilon subscribes to this!  

 Charging the P692M to the poor consumers is injustice that cries to God for punishment. ERC crooks should know, their tragedy is not to die but having no one to cry. Remember, for a good public servant, he is better missed than damned. I hope there is now a signature campaign against this unjust PEDC charges!