The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) will implement an Advocacy and Support Program in the aftermath of Typhoon Kristine, together with its Consumer Protection Education Program for the grassroot level, in the third week of November 2024, a press release from the group said.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Information Network of ACCESS is monitoring power outage areas in Bacolod City, relevant to its duration and impact. ACCESS will make representations with the LGUs and Negros Power on these concerns and issues affecting the electricity consumers.
As part of its commitment in addressing the basic problems of the Filipino consumers on food security and safety, basic public services like water and electricity, consumer protection and empowerment, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) has concluded its final stage of program planning and development for the implementation of its basic consumer-protection education program.
The aim of ACCESS in implementing the program at the grassroot level is to educate and empower the electricity consumers to make informed decisions and protect their rights that would increase their knowledge, rights and responsibilities. This will empower the community of consumers, build their capacity, confidence and self-determination, the press release added.
ACCESS president Wennie Sancho said the program will focus on consumers’ protection in the power industry as part of its initial initiative which is crucial to ensure fair treatment, safety and affordable access to electricity. It will be implemented in close coordination with the LGU’s and Negros Power to include topics such as reliable supply of electricity, reduction of power outages, accurate billing and complaint resolution, so that a DU must have a clear process for addressing the complaints of electricity consumers.
ACCESS aims to foster public awareness and education by way of a consumer protection education program in the power industry that aims to safeguard the interest of electricity consumers, ensuring they receive fair treatment, reliable service and accurate information.
In order to face the tremendous challenges affecting the consumers and Negros Power, ACCESS believes that a positive consumer-management relationship in the power industry is crucial, for trust and satisfaction, and effective communication between the DU’s and the consumers in order to come up with the consumers’ expectations of a reliable power supply.
It should be the responsibility of the management to engage the electricity consumers through feedback mechanisms and provide clear information on the policies and services of a DU or company.
A collaboration between the DU and the consumers is necessary in order to identify areas of cooperation, roles and responsibilities that would formalize partnership and cooperation, to ensure the successful implementation of the consumer protection education program of ACCESS, the press release concluded.*
