Electric consumers now taking arms against abuse; Pelco 1 Consumers Protection Group formed.
CANDABA - Several consumer-members of Pampanga 1 Electric Cooperative (PELCO 1) in Barangay San Agustin this town have joined arms following the launching of consumers' group to protect their interest against abuse, unjust power rate increase and other negligence which led to additional financial burden.
The group was called Pelco 1 Consumers Protection Group (PCPG) with an office address at Tierra Village in the said barangay.
According to Violeta Pangilinan, PCPG media relation officer, the group was formed after a series of consultation among the members following the failure of the Pelco 1 administration to address their concern on abrupt increase of electric bills up to more than 80% by some of them.
"Karapatan naman siguro namin bilang mga miyembro ng kooperatiba na magtanong bakit ang laki na itinaas ng aming kunsumo sa kuryente gayong wala namang napadagdag na appliances sa mga bahay namin. Inilapit namin ito sa kanila dyan mismo sa main office sa Mexico pero ipinagkibit balikat lamang nila" Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan suggested that officials of Pelco 1 should go over with the by laws and charter of the organization so that they could give what is due to the consumer-members.
"Baka nakakalimutan nila na ang nature ng Pelco 1 ay kooperatiba, ang bawat miyembro ay may karapatan na dapat igalang at hindi dapat ipagkait ng nagpapalakad nito," she explained.
PCPG members cited the lack of grievance machinery or organized system of Pelco 1 to address to the complaints of the members.
"Sa tingin namin wala sila ng ganito, dahil ang mga reklamo namin ay hanggang reklamo lamang. Walang kumikilos sa kanila at iyong inirereklamong bill ay patuloy na nagrereflect sa susunod na billing statement ng wala man lang notice na under consideration ito," another member lamented.
As this developed, PCPG is planning to elevate the issue to the provincial board particularly the committee handling the affairs of various cooperatives in the province.
This also include a letter address to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Zenaida Ducut requesting her office to conduct an audit on financial status of Pelco 1 as there were reports that ranking officials of Pelco 1 are receiving so much salaries and benefits plus several trips abroad under the guise of trainings and seminars.
"Kung totoo ito, ang laki ng sweldo at benepisyong tinatanggap ng mga boss dito tapos kaming mga miyembro ang kinukuba nila sa kababayad ng hindi maipaliwanag na pagtaas ng rate ng kuryente," another member in one of the meetings pointed out.
Earlier eports have it, Pelco 1 has an over collection of P140,893,592 from 2004 to 2008 with an annual revenue requirement of P74,167,340.
Meanwhile, a group of electric consumers in Barangay Paralaya has signified willingness to join PCPG.