ERC Chair Dimalanta Reassumes Post; NGCP Review Expected

Malacañang has reinstated Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Monalisa Dimalanta following the lifting of her preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Dimalanta, who spoke at the Monday Circle forum two months ago, has been instrumental in ensuring that additional costs proposed for consumers are carefully reviewed for justification. I Photo: Board of Investments / Energy Regulatory Commission Facebook

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the decision to end the suspension early, which was initially set for six months but contested by Dimalanta.

“Pursuant to the October 22, 2024, Order of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) in OMB-C-A-JUL-24-0066, titled National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (NASECORE) vs. Monalisa C. Dimalanta, lifting the August 20, 2024, order of preventive suspension issued against respondent Monalisa C. Dimalanta, the latter is hereby reinstated as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission immediately upon receipt hereof,” Bersamin stated in a memorandum dated October 30.

The ERC welcomed Dimalanta’s return, emphasizing its role in providing stability to the regulatory agency.

“The ERC welcomes the Ombudsman’s decision to lift the preventive suspension, as it ensures stability within the agency and the energy sector. We also extend our gratitude to Officer-in-Charge Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, whose brief leadership helped guide the agency through a critical period,” the ERC said in a statement.

“With Chairperson Dimalanta’s return, the ERC remains committed to fulfilling its mandate as the country’s energy regulator,” the ERC added.

Dimalanta’s reinstatement also means the Commission can now address pending matters, including petitions from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and electric cooperatives seeking rate increases.

Dimalanta, who spoke at the Monday Circle forum two months ago, has been instrumental in ensuring that additional costs proposed for consumers are carefully reviewed for justification.

One notable case involves the NGCP, where certain proposed pass-on expenditures were disallowed.

Specifically, the ERC disallowed NGCP’s operations and maintenance expenses amounting to PHP3.751 billion for 2016-2020, which could have been included in transmission costs passed on to consumers.

Among the rejected expense items were advertising and PR expenses, which the ERC argued were unnecessary for a monopoly.

“Since NGCP operates as a monopoly, there is no need to advertise its services. Why promote what consumers have no alternative to choose from?” the ERC commented.