Rodriguez said the shortage can lead to price manipulation by power producers and distributors.
“The IMEM is susceptible to price manipulation because most of its trading is unregulated,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Karlos Isagani Zarate.
Industry executives estimated that if the IMEM prevailed and distributors have to buy electricity from it, consumers would pay an additional P3 per kilowatt-hour.
Sergio Dagooc, president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives said the increase would greatly affect 60 percent of Mindanao’s 23 million power users which are poor families using one electric bulb to light their homes . (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
