Unpardonable Selfishness

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

Unpardonable Selfishness!

I am one of those who favor the putting up of a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City. I was enticed by the promise of the management that once it becomes operational, the price of electricity will be reduced by P2 per kwh.

The Global Business Corporation (GBC), owner of the Coal-Fired Power Plant and the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) that manage the full operation of the business have attested to this pledge.

But after a year, PEDC officials filed a petition for Under Recovery Collection of the P698.2M alleged losses with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). This is  to be charged against the consumers account without the public getting wind of it.

The alleged P698.2M losses has incurred during the emission and other testing operation of the coal-fired power plant. The petition seeks that this amount will be gradually added as increase to the Panay Electric Company’s (PECO) billing to consumers. The ERC granted the petition and the P698.2M is now a consumers’ headache for the next five years!

This is not what we think the ERC business is all about. Energy officials approved the rate increase so hastily as if passengers catching the last plane out. It creates an impression without affirming the perception that the approval of the petition is in exchange for - you know what!

The ERC officials should know that it is only for them, the greedy stockholders and government crooks that what they did is good. Losses in the operation are part of the risks in a business venture that should be charged from the capital of investors, not from consumers’ pocket!

If the losses are true as PEDC officials claimed to have incurred, the consumers have nothing to do with it. So why charged them that P698.2M when they have not even used that energy? Profit and Loss are parts of the business venture of the investors, not of consumers!

What’s more, PEDC petition was approved by ERC since December 2011, then what caused the delay to send a copy to the city government which it received only in June this month? Why did PEDC officials fail to send a copy of the ERC approved petition to our city officials on time?

Again, the increase in our electric bills for the past three months is suspicious. Is the Under Recovery Collection of PEDC already start without the public getting wind of it? It surprised us , but the law says;  nemu punitor pro alieno delicto – no one is punished for the crime of another!

A promised cheap power by GBC has lasted only for about three months. Now officials are rebounding back pounding the consumers’ pocket for every chance they get. 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).

ERC officials are widely believed to have succumbed to temptation of greed in this case. We had been treated before by companies with selfish stockholders and officers colluding with government officials at the expense of the public. What is somewhat missing in the empty lives of these people is to die with dignity!

It is written though, qui peccat ebrius luat sobrius – he who offends when drunk shall be punished when sober. Deliberate charging of the P698.2M company’s losses to the poor consumers is injustice that cries to God for punishment. As to contrition for this misdeed, apology not accepted!