ERC orders distribution utilities to submit reports on senior citizen discounts

MANILA, Philippines – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has directed all distribution utilities (DUs) to submit reports on discounts given to senior citizens.

The ERC said it had approved on Sept. 26 the adoption of the revised and improved uniform reportorial requirements (URR) model for all DUs to include the senior citizen discounts.

The original URR model, the ERC said, had to be revised to consider recently promulgated rules and resolutions issued by the ERC such as the rules implementing the discounts to qualified senior citizen end-users and subsidy from the subsidizing end-users on electricity consumption, among others.

The revised URR model will be mandatory for all 140 DUs in the country (both privately-run and rural electric cooperatives).

The new URR system involves the use of the latest information and communication technology (ICT) available such as secure Internet inter-connection features and linked database and report-generator configurations.

“The revised URR model will be implemented starting January 2012 and will enable the ERC to closely monitor the operations of a DU through a computer-assisted study of vital DU statistics such as: actual implemented rates, revenues, rates covered by automatic adjustment and tax calculations, prior period adjustments collected/refunded, lifeline discount, senior citizen discount, and technical data (system losses, system capacity, peak demand) among others,” ERC chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut said.

The ERC chief said the URR format will be downloadable from the ERC’s website (www.erc.gov.ph).

Ducut warned against those DUs that would not comply with these reportorial requirements.

“All DUs must strictly comply with the proper usage and submission of the URR format every month to avert violations of ERC rules and regulations,” she said.

In order to facilitate the use of the new URR format, Ducut said the ERC will conduct regional orientation and workshops on the use of the revised/improved URR model prior to its January 2012 implementation. –Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star)