Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste – Photo courtesy of Leandro Leviste /Facebook.
Another company linked to Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste is facing possible penalties of up to P150 million as energy regulators investigate alleged violations involving power operations and pricing.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said Tuesday that Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPSB) is under scrutiny for three possible breaches of energy rules, each carrying fines that could reach as high as P50 million.
ERC Chair Francis Saturnino Juan said the violations stem from findings that the company may have operated without the required authority, failed to secure a certificate of compliance, and charged electricity rates that were not approved by the commission.
In a show-cause order issued on Jan. 30, the ERC required SPSB to explain complaints related to its electricity service in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, where it had been supplying power since 2018.
The commission said records indicate that the firm did not obtain regulatory clearance before operating and collecting payments from consumers in the area, despite franchise conditions requiring prior approval of retail rates.
While the order did not specify the rates collected, residents earlier claimed they were billed as much as P18 per kilowatt-hour, significantly higher than the amount initially promised to them.
SPSB was given 15 days to respond to the allegations and was ordered to submit copies of monthly consumer bills covering the period of its operations.
Leviste has said the accusations are politically driven and maintained that he would address the issues in the appropriate forum, as regulatory pressure continues to mount on firms linked to his business interests.