The Office of the Ombudsman has handed down a six-month suspension to Monalisa Dimalanta, the Energy Regulatory Commission Chair (ERC) Chair, due to allegations of misconduct, neglect of duty, and abuse of authority. This decision follows claims that Dimalanta’s actions allowed Meralco to pass increased costs to consumers without securing necessary approvals from the ERC, potentially breaching the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
The suspension stems from a complaint filed by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore). It argues that as ERC Chair, Dimalanta failed to adequately regulate Meralco’s electricity purchases from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), passing higher power rates to consumers. This lack of regulatory oversight was seen as a violation of EPIRA’s mandate to protect the public interest and maintain transparency in the electricity market.
Preventive suspension is a procedural measure to ensure no undue influence affects the ongoing investigation. By suspending Dimalanta, the Ombudsman intends to ensure an impartial review of the allegations. As an essential regulatory body, the ERC is responsible for balancing the interests of both power providers and consumers. Allegations of this nature against its top leadership bring to light the critical need for regulatory transparency and consumer protection within the energy sector.
This case highlights the broader challenges within the Philippine energy sector—regulatory integrity, accountability, and balancing industry growth and consumer rights. Dimalanta’s suspension not only underscores the severe implications of regulatory missteps but also serves as a reminder of the ERC’s obligation to uphold fairness in the energy market, particularly when the cost of electricity remains a sensitive issue for the general population.
The investigation will proceed to establish the veracity of these claims and determine whether regulatory lapses occurred under Dimalanta’s leadership. In the meantime, the ERC’s leadership vacuum could pose additional challenges for the energy sector, which is already under pressure to effectively manage rising demand and costs.
Industry stakeholders and consumers alike will closely watch the outcome of this case, as it has the potential to shape the future governance and accountability standards of energy regulation in the Philippines.