ERC to conduct consultations on seniors citizens’ bill discount
The Energy Regulatory Commission will hold this month the public consultations on the proposed “Rules for the Calculation of Senior Citizen Discounts and Subsidies on Electricity Consumption” under Section 4 and 5 of Republic Act 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
R.A. 9994 grants qualified senior citizens a five percent discount on electricity consumption provided that the installed electric meter is registered under the name of the senior citizen and that the monthly electricity consumption should not exceed 100 kilowatt per hour.
Aside from the discount to be enjoyed by the senior citizens, the government institution or non-stock, non-profit domestic organizations caring for senior citizens shall be entitled to 50 percent discount on their monthly electricity bill.
The law’s implementing rules and regulations, which took effect on 6 July 2010, tasked ERC to come up with the supplementing guidelines within six months from that said date.
“The rules are aimed at providing transparency in the grant of senior citizen discounts and in the calculation of the subsidy rates, and at protecting the interest of the public which will be affected by the rates and services of the distribution utilities,” ERC Executive Director Francis Saturnino Juan said.
Aside from computing the discount on electricity consumption by the senior citizens or home care facilities catering to senior citizens, Juan said the draft ERC rules also contains the formula in computing the subsidy to be charged to subsidizing end-user.
It likewise contains the formula in computing for over and under-recoveries in the implementation of the senior citizen discount and the subsidy rate adjustments.
There are also provisions in the draft rules providing the distribution utility. The implementation of the discount scheme, using the format prescribed in the ERC’s Uniform Reportorial Requirements (URR), are likewise contained. Finally, the rules will also spell out the fines and penalties for violations.
For Luzon-based parties, the public consultation will be held on September 22, 9 a.m., at the ERC Hearing Room, located at 15F, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City; Visayas – September 29 and 30, 9 a.m., Bohol Tropics Hotel, Graham Avenue, Tagbilaran City; and Mindanao – October 6 and 7, 9 a.m., Royal Mandaya Hotel, J. Palma Gil St., Davao City.
