Mabilog wants PECO probed

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Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog welcomed the City Council’s move to ask Congress for an inquiry into the operations of Panay Electric Co., the sole power distributor in the metropolis.

The proposed probe stemmed from public clamor regarding alleged overcharging on electricity bills.

“Our administration is pro-consumer and consumer protection is one of our top priorities. We will not tolerate overpricing and Peco has to be made accountable if proven,” Mabilog stressed.

The mayor called for an inquest in a letter to the City Council dated March 30.

“The undersigned would like to request for the conduct of an investigation with regard the complaint of consumers of Peco for allegedly being charged in excess of what they have actually consumed. The thorough investigation on this matter may call forth the need for a regulatory ordinance to protect the rights of our burdened consumers,” Mabilog stated.

“(This will also) pave way for the filing of necessary complaint with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), copy provided to the Office of the President, if indeed there is a valid and legal basis of the said complaint,” he added.

Councilor Joshua Alim said the matter was unanimously approved during their session Tuesday April 11 even as he thanked his colleagues in supporting his “resolution calling for a Congressional investigation on PECO's operations.”

Alim authored the “resolution requesting Cong. Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City, Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna Partylist and Harry Roque of Kabayan Partylist to sponsor a resolution calling for an investigation to be held in Iloilo City regarding the irregularities on billings, meter readings, services and other imposed charges of Peco operating in the city.” [via Iloilo City PIO]

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