ERC chief asks Ombudsman to reconsider suspension

SUSPENDED Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta filed a motion for reconsideration on Wednesday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s suspension order.

However, Dimalanta said she has yet to secure a copy of the complaint against her that became a basis for the six-month suspension order.

“I have not seen it (complaint) yet but I have filed through my lawyers yesterday a motion for reconsideration of the order. The order was served on me Monday… Based on the order, we were able to prepare and file a motion for reconsideration,” she said in an interview yesterday at ANC’s Headstart program.

The order was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on August 27 but was released to reporters only on September 5.

Dimalanta also said ERC’s day-to-day operations continue but matters that require commission meetings are stalled because only the ERC chairperson can call for or convene a meeting.

Among critical items that may be affected by the suspension order are approval of power supply agreements so that distribution utilities and electric cooperatives will not be exposed to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, she added.

The setting of rates for the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auctions (GEA) may also be affected, she said.

“(DOE is) supposed to conduct one (GEA) this quarter and another early next year. We were supposed to set parameters for pricing of the auctions. That one, I am really worried about,” Dimalanta said.

“We have huge investors we have invited to participate in those auctions. We want to assure investors that these things will continue and we have a stable investment climate in the Philippines that they can bank on and rely upon,” she added.

Dimalanta also pointed out that the regulatory body has a backlog of cases. Among the root causes of her suspension order is the perceived inefficiency of the ERC, she said.

“Since the time I assumed office at the ERC in August 2022, I have inherited almost 10 years’ worth of backlog… We’ve been doing a lot of catchup… I think we have been doing well before this development,” Dimalanta said.

The Ombudsman’s order was based on an administrative complaint filed by the National Association of