THE Department of Energy (DOE), which chairs the corporation that operates the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), is fully aware of the market abuse in the power sector, including the “cartel-like” simultaneous maintenance of the plants supplying the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), forcing the latter to declare a stiff price increase last December of over P4.15 a kilowatt-hour.

Yet, the DOE never lifted a finger to protect the interest of the consumers. The Supreme Court did by temporarily halting the price hike in late December.