The pre-trial hearing for the 13 cases against power players that withheld power supply in 2013 will begin in August, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) spokesperson Floresinda Digal said.
Resolution No. 14 allowed the ERC to divide itself into two groups and will enable the body to have a speedy disposition on the cases. Additionally, commissioners to act as presiding officers in the anti-competition cases.
The probe on the case restarted when former Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar was appointed chairman until July 10, 2022. He will hold seats in both divisions.
The 12 power players are 1590 Bauang, AP Renewables, CIP II Power Corp., GNPower, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), Pan-Asia Energy Holdings, SEM-Calaca, Strategic Power, Trans-Asia Power Corp., Udenna Management Resources Corp., and ThermaMobile (TMO) with two cases.
In June 2015, the ERC’s Investigating Unit reported that 12 power players withheld supply during Meralco’s largest power rate hike.
Generation charges were P9.10 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in December 2013 and P10.23 kWh in January 2014.