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[av_heading heading=’ Gerochi hauling PECO to ERC’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Sunday, June 4, 2017
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ILOILO City – Councilor R Leone Gerochi will file a petition against Panay Electric Company (PECO) before the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC).
The chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod energy and public utilities committee was disappointed that, for the second time, PECO snubbed the hearing he presided for consumer complaints.
“We will be drafting a petition to compel PECO to answer,” Gerochi said.
Aside from PECO, its meter reading contractor Utility Solutions, Inc. was also a no-show. They sent Gerochi letters instead.
Gerochi sent PECO and its contractor questions he may possibly ask during the hearing.
The councilor believed his questions were relevant.
“Pero nakita ko hesitant sila magsabat bisan basic nga questions, like, pila ka tawo on the average ang nagakadto sa PECO para magreklamo,” Gerochi said.
Writing to Gerochi on behalf of PECO, legal counsel Honorato “Hans” Sayno Jr. reiterated his client’s stand that the concerns to be taken up during the hearing “should be brought to the proper forum and supported by substantial facts.”
“Moreover, it appears that PECO is not in a position to answer the queries because this … questioning is not sanctioned by the Sanggunian rules,” Sayno wrote. “Apart from that, the relevance of the questions … [on] alleged excess billings appears remote.”
According to Sayno, the issue on alleged “billings charged in excess of what is actually consumed by consumers” can be best resolved appropriately by the utility and its consumers through “an intelligent and open discussion of what constitutes each consumer’s complaint.”
“It must be emphasized that each complaint is imbued with peculiar circumstances that may be different from that of other customers,” the lawyer said. “General questions, even if answered, will not resolve the individual’s complaint because each is situated differently.”
PECO requested Gerochi and his committee to submit to the utility a list of complainants with “corresponding attachments substantiating their claim” … “so that their individual concerns can be thoroughly addressed, with matters explained to them in detail and perhaps a settlement agreed upon if warranted.”
Meanwhile Utility Solutions, Inc. operations manager Efren G. Buenvenida said they were advised by their legal counsel that they will entertain all concerns through a set of questionnaires “so we can answer with much objectivity.”/PN
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