MANILA: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to justify its approval of an electricity rate hike starting in October this year."We need to ensure that any pass-through charges are justified so that any increase in electricity prices does not unduly burden consumers,' Gatchalian said in a statement.'Importante na masiguro natin na lahat ng pinapasang bayarin sa mga consumers ay nasa katwiran at hindi pwedeng pasa lang nang pasa ang ERC (It is important that we ensure that all fees charged to consumers are reasonable and that the ERC should not just keep passing it on).'The ERC had earlier granted the Manila Electric Company's (Meralco) application for the power distribution company to adjust the rates of power it generates from natural gas-fired power plants.Based on the ERC resolution, Meralco is authorized to reflect the adjusted rates from the gas-fired power plants of First Gas Power Corp. and FGP Corp. starting in October.The rate hike is expected to amount to 32 to 33 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) monthly for 12 months.Gatchalian said the ERC should also investigate the price of LNG (liquefied natural gas) contracted by the gas plants, which led to the increase.Source: Philippines News agency