Ateneo de Manila University and San Beda College Alabang supported the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order against the retail competition and open access rules of the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy
“Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001) clearly provides for the voluntary migration of end-users to the contestable market and there appears to be no basis for the mandatory migration ordered by ERC and DoE through their issuances,” the statement read.
“Admittedly, it would be very difficult for academic establishments like San Beda College Alabang to meet the proposed deadline by ERC and DoE of February 26, 2017 forcing customers to enter into new retail supply contracts or otherwise suffer the consequence of being disconnected from the distribution utility or being made to pay a supplier of last resort a 10 percent premium between the higher contract cost and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market,” said Fr. Aelred Nilo, OSB, director for finance, administration and gneral Services of San Beda College Alabang.
“ADMU believes that our government and regulating bodies should ultimately seek to protect our basic, constitutional right to freedom of choice. And this right should extend to all electricity consumers,” Ateneo De Manila president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ. Said.
“If we are allowed to choose the best supplier for our needs in a market that is allowed to work freely and for the common good, then such a scenario will be most beneficial to all consumers concerned, especially those smaller scale contestable customers like schools and universities that may have a difficult time searching for a new contract.”
He added the TRO was an encouraging development towards preserving the right of every Filipino to choose freely, and we hope that this TRO paves the way to a more progressive power industry and a safer economic environment for the academe.”
