Articles on high power rates and EVAT

Here are two articles on power written in 2006 but which are still very relevant in the current debate on high power rates. The major points remain unchanged even if the quantitative data are those obtainining in 2006. We will update the data this weekend.

Ever increasing rates from the EPIRA:
A closer look at the electric power industry in the Philippines
BY DR. GIOVANNI TAPANG, ENGR. RAMON RAMIREZ, KIM GARGAR

Electric power is a basic service that is needed by households in everyday activities and is equally important for industries to operate. The failure of the government to provide electric power was evident when the country faced massive blackouts in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to a shortage of power supply. Download article here

E-VAT on Electricity: Short-circuiting the People’s Interest
BY MON RAMIREZ
Contributed to Bulatlat

Upon the passage of the Value Added Tax (VAT) law, the Arroyo administration assured the public that the imposition of VAT on power will have very minimal impact on our electric bill. True to its form, the Arroyo administration has been caught lying again with the latest electric bill. Download article here