THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) yesterday said it would review the applications of distribution utilities (DUs) for power cost adjustments in two to three months.
“Nagse-set po tayo ng panahon kung kailan po siya ipapataw. So usually po, mga two to three months. Maghe-hearing pa po kasi ito,” ERC chairperson and chief executive officer Monalisa Dimalanta said.
According to her, consumers will be invited to participate in the hearing.
After the hearing, Dimalanta said the ERC will determine if the cost adjustment will be implemented in the next billing period and how long the collection period will be for additional power costs.
Dimalanta clarified that the cost adjustment could also include refunds for consumers and not only additional power costs.
“Meron na ngang at least apat na distributor na ang application nila is actually para makapag-refund din sila. So adjustments could be up or down,” she said.
If the additional cost is a big sum, Dimalanta said it would be spread out over different billing periods. For refunds, she said it would be “one time, big time”.
On Wednesday, June 21, ERC said 48 distribution utilities applied for automatic cost adjustment and true-up mechanisms for the period 2020-2022.
According to Dimalanta, the cost adjustment applications cover charges incurred from 2020 to 2022.
The ERC said the 48 DUs filed their applications pursuant to Resolution No. 14, Series of 2022.
The said resolution contains the revised rules governing the automatic cost adjustment and true-up mechanisms for DUs which aim for more transparent collection of pass-through costs or charges starting 2023.
Pass-through costs are amounts collected by DUs for charges other than the Distribution Charge or the payment for use of the DUs facilities.
The DUs collect these amounts from electricity consumers and pay the generation companies or power suppliers for the energy generated and the system operator for the use of transmission facilities. (GMA Integrated News)
