ERC chairman meted preventive suspension

(UPDATES) THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Monalisa Dimalanta for six months for allowing the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to buy electricity on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and pass the cost to consumers without the ERC's approval.

The Office of the Ombudsman issued the order based on the complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore), which alleged that Dimalanta's action was a violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.