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Philippines: Electricity probe to continue despite price hike voids

By  |  March 17, 2014

While the Philippines’ Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered last year’s fourth quarter energy price hike to be voided, reports say the nation’s Department of Justice will continue with its investigation into the matter.

The DOJ is set to probe allegations of price-fixing and other anticompetitive behavior within the energy market and confirmed it would continue its investigation despite the ERC’s decision last week to voice the price increases.

Reports say consumers were hit with record fees for energy last November as generation costs lead to increased prices for Manila Electric Co customers.

The energy watchdog reportedly voided those high costs after it found the increases were due to power plants refusing to offer capacity, in violation of the so-called must-offer rule.

Full Content: Business Inquirer

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