MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Noli de Castro is calling for an investigation on the pilferage costs being charged by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to its consumers.
May karapatan ang taumbayan na malaman kung karapat-dapat ba talaga yung sinisingil sa kanila (The public deserves to know if what is being charged to them is justifiable), De Castro said in a report by GMAs 24 Oras.
Pilferage costs are due to illegal connection of electricity and are included in systems lost charges, which result to higher electricity bills among power consumers every month.
The television report said that for every 1 percent system lost due to pilferage, Meralco is losing around P1.3 billion from its revenues.
Our pilferage is still 3 percent, so you multiply it by three so its about P3.9 billion that is being pilfered, Meralco President Jesus Francisco said.
The inclusion of systems lost charges in their monthly electricity bills is one of the major complaints among many consumers, who are crying foul over paying for the electricity they did not consume.
Pete Ilagan, president of consumer advocacy group Nasecore , should seek for ways to prevent pilferage instead of passing the burden to the consumers.
Bakit ipapasa ng isang utility firm na tulad ng Meralco itong pagnanakaw ng iba sa lahat ng consumers? Ito ay lookout ng isang nagnenegosyo. Dapat meron silang preventive ways (Why are the consumers being made to suffer for the electricity that is being stolen by some? Meralco, as a company, should have preventive ways against pilferage), he said.
Meralco, on the other hand, is urging the public to report to them individuals or groups who are engaged in illegal connection so that they can immediately act on it. - GMANews.TV