TAGUIG CITY - In light of the socio-economic and health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has directed his Department of Energy (DOE) team to exert all efforts and find ways to uplift the welfare of consumers.
At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacanang, Secretary Cusi informed the President and his colleagues in the Cabinet that the DOE has been reaching out to the other members of the energy family in the private sector on how consumers could be helped at this time, especially the lifeliners or the marginalized sector.
“I have given my order to all the Distribution Utilities (DUs) to submit their programs and strategies that will help alleviate the lives of the lifeliners in these crucial times,” the Energy Chief underscored.
Secretary Cusi assured the President that the DOE has put consumer welfare at the forefront of its policy strategies.
“As we grappled with the peak of COVID-19 transmissions last year, the DOE took proactive steps to help consumers, most especially those at the margins, keep afloat in the midst of grave health and livelihood concerns,” he said.
To date, the DOE and the energy family has been assisting lifeliners by directing energy entities to observe the grace period and staggered payments for unpaid bills provided under the Bayanihan Law, assistance under the National Electrification Administration's Pantawid Liwanag Program, and the suspension of the Universal Charge for Stranded Contract Cost and Stranded Debts to be covered by the Malampaya fund under the Murang Kuryente Act.
However, to lessen the impact and help manage the cash flow in the energy supply chain, consumers who are capable of paying are encouraged to continue paying their bills within the original due dates.
Lifeliners are the low-income captive market end-users who cannot afford to pay at full cost, and are determined based on electricity consumption below a threshold level set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The DOE has also called on the ERC to closely monitor pass-through charges.
During the Cabinet Meeting, the DOE, through Undersecretary and Spokesperson Felix William B. Fuentebella has recommended several measures as additional assistance to the lifeliners. This includes:
• Support for the DOE’s extension on the NO DISCONNECTION, for DUs to extend the grace period for an additional two months, and for the DUs to provide options for installment payment for lifeliners.
• Support the Presidential Communications Operations Office-DOE intensified campaign for Energy Efficiency & Conservation enabling all consumers, including the lifeliners, to enhance the efficient use of energy through new technologies.
• Support the Energy family’s quick restoration of services, especially during calamities.
• Continued support for the DOE and ERC in the implementation of Energy Efficiency Law, Retail Competition and Open Access, Green Energy Option Program, and Green Energy Auction Program.
• Explore the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprise Bill’s potential to improve the consumers’ ability to pay and to enhance the competitiveness of the supply sector.
• Maximize the Department of Finance-DOE’s foreign assistance, such as the Green Energy Fund and Energy Transition Fund for consumer protection through the use of new technologies and the development of indigenous and clean energy sources.
All recommendations brought forth by the Department were approved by the President.
Moreover, the President also approved the move to extend of the benefits enjoyed by the lifeliners from 2021 to 2051 under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, as recommended by Secretary Cusi. For this, the DOE will continue to work with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to secure further amendments.
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