November 10, 2018
Laban Konsyumer renews its advocacy for end to Fit-All, universal and missionary charges
Group demands swifter action from DOE, ERC, Senate, House Energy Committee to end missionary, universal and FIT-All charge and their heavy burden on consumers
Laban Konsyumer Inc. President Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba, wrote letters to the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Senate, and the House Energy Committees to renew its advocacy once again for immediate action to be taken against the Feed-In-Tariff Allowance being charged to consumers? electric bills and thus burdening consumers with high prices. The group also asked for action to be taken against missionary and universal charges as well.
Dimagiba went on to say ?What should be done is to take out costs like Fit-All, Universal Charge, Missionary charges from the bills being billed to consumers. We addressed ERC regarding Fit-All and legislation regarding the other charges. We believe that the state should answer for these charges, and not consumers. Especially with inflation hardening at 6.7% we believe that this burden of additional power charges on consumers should be removed from their shoulders. But all we see is neglect and inaction on the issues like Fit-All, missionary and universal charges.?
Dimagiba asked ?Why should consumers in Metro Manila continue to pay for users in far-flung areas. Why will I pay for renewable subsidies? I don?t mind paying as long as it is the true cost. With our letters addressed to the government and regulators, we wish to make clear that we are lamenting and criticizing their incompetence and inaction on all these important issues. Consumers should pay the true cost, but not additional charges for electricity that we do not even use ourselves?.
The group explained the urgency of the issue like Fit-All, saying ?FIT-All is collected from electric consumers nationwide and is used to subsidize payments to select RE developers. But what is alarming though is that FIT-All has increased more than sixfold from 4-c/kWh in 2015 to 25c/kWh starting June 2018. There are even pending petitions to further increase this to as much as 29-c/kWh and will continue to increase for the balance of a 20 year period . We are asking regulator and government to put a stop to this unjust and overpriced component of consumers? electricity bills.?
Dimagiba reminded in his letter of his recent concerns regarding Fit-All in the past months, pointing out that ?the FIT-All Rate Petitions are the only cases where the Commission grants a rate that is higher than what was asked by the Petitioners. In fact, the FIT rates granted to developers have been shown to be far too expensive. For example, the solar rates signed by electric distributors with developers, as submitted to the ERC for approval, are cheaper than the FIT rates that consumers nationwide will subsidize for 20 years.?
LKI also touched on overpayment to Fit-eligible renewable energy plants. Dimagiba said ?during the hearings for the 2018 FIT-All Rate, LKI observed that TransCo presented inconsistent capacities for some RE plants. LKI also pointed out that these higher capacities may have been used by TransCo as the basis for payments to these RE Plants. This means TransCo may have OVERPAID these FIT-Eligible RE Plants and that the computed FIT-All is higher than necessary. This observation was confirmed when the ERC issued an Order on June 11, 2018, where the ERC determined that TransCo OVERPAYED certain FIT-eligible generators by P36.5 million. It would be unfair and unjust to pass on this overpayment to consumers and their electricity bills.?
Dimagiba concluded by saying that ?Fit-All is also an inflation issue, and thus a consumer welfare issue. Meralco has been reporting that 2018 power prices have been lower than they were in 2012, with only the Universal Charge and Fit-All showing increases. This is where government can help temper inflation. By considering Fit-All and universal and missionary charges as a burden to consumers, you can finally rectify and undo mistakes of the government in the past.?
In the past months, Dimagiba and LKI have been actively advocating against Fit-All, TRAIN law, and inflation, calling for government to act immediately and relieve consumers of the heavy burden of soaring prices. On the topic of escalation of the FIT rates for FOREX and inflation, the group stated that a simulation based on the data provided by TransCo in its application shows that the effect of escalation is significant and the additional FIT payments will continue to increase until the 20th year, as the FIT payments are guaranteed for 20 years, thus putting no end to Fit-All?s burden on consumers. Thus, the group firmly believes that acting on Fit-All and relieving consumers immediately of this burden must be a top priority of the government and regulator.
Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) is a nonprofit and non-stock registered entity with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LKI is a consumer advocacy group in the Philippines that promotes consumer education and protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable business practices. The LKI focuses on education, prices and supply of basic and prime commodities, standards and qualities among other areas of consumer protection.
LKI is a new member of Consumers International, a membership organization for consumer groups around the world. Consumer International is composed of over 200 member organizations in more than 100 countries to empower and champion the rights of consumers everywhere. Dimagiba also acts as Chairman of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Consumer Policy Committee (COPOLCO) of the Philippines.
For any inquiries or concerns, you may reach LKI President Vic Dimagiba at 0917-812-5546 ,visit www.labankonsyumer.com for Konsyumer news updates, like us on Facebook : Laban Konsyumer
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