Gov’t solution to power crisis tagged as ‘blackmail’ By Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2012

Gov’t solution to power crisis tagged as ‘blackmail’

By Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2012

A militant lawmaker yesterday branded as a blackmail the government’s decision to bring in expensive power barges as a stopgap solution to the power supply shortage in Mindanao, saying that the measure will jack up power bill payments in the region.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño yesterday said the Department of Energy (DoE) is blackmailing the people of Mindanao into accepting artificially high power rates in order to solve the power crisis.

Casiño added DoE Circular DC 2012–03-0004 will force consumers to pay an additional 50 to 80 centavos per kilowatthour (kwh) for their electricity cost as it obliged electric cooperatives into getting electricity supply from power barges like those owned by Therma Marine Inc. which needs expensive oil fuel to run..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120409hea5.html