PH High Court tells gov’t: explain rate hike approval

The Supreme Court asked energy regulators to explain why they approved the rate hike of power distributor Manila Electric Co. or Meralco. Various groups filed petitions against the hike, prompting the Court to issue a temporary restraining order on its implementation. Meralco said it was forced to buy more expensive power because of the simultaneous outages of its power plant suppliers. In a 5-page order released Thursday, the High Court also ordered the the operator of the electricity spot market and 6 other Meralco power suppliers included in the petitions. The Court denied the motion of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asking to be excused from filing a comment. The OSG earlier said it’s Meralco’s duty to defend itself and the public respondents in the case.

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