Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001

Section 75

This Act shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be construed in favor of the establishment, promotion, preservation of competition and people empowerment so that the widest participation of the people, whether direct or indirect, is ensured.

Section 76

End users shall be educated about the implementation of retail access and its impact on end-users and on the proper use of electric power. Such education shall include, but not limited to, the existence of competitive electricity suppliers, choice of competitive electricity services, regulated transmission and distribution services, systems reliability, aggregation, market, itemized billing, stranded cost, uniform disclosure requirements, low-income bill payment, energy conservation and safety measures. The DOE, in coordination with the NPC, NEA, ERC and the Office of the Press Secretary-Philippine Information Agency (OPS-PIA), shall undertake an information campaign to educate the public on the restructuring of the electric power industry and privatization of NPC.

Section 77

The DOE shall, in consultation with the electric power industry participants and end-users, promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, subject to the approval by the Power Commission.

Section 78

The implementation of the provisions of this Act shall not be restrained or enjoined except by an order issued by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Section 79

If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 80

The applicability provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended, otherwise known as the "Public Services Act"; Republic Act 6395, as amended, revising the charter of NPC; Presidential Decree 269, as amended, referred to as the NEA decree; Republic Act 7638, otherwise known as the "Department of Energy Act of 1992"; Executive Order 172, as amended, creating the ERB; Republic Act 7832 otherwise known as the "Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994", shall continue to have full force and effect except in so far as inconsistent with this Act. Presidential Decree No. 40 and all laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 81

This Act shall take effect on the fifteenth day following its publication in at least two (2) national papers of general circulation.