The House Committee on Energy resumed its inquiry on Meralco's power rate hike Wednesday morning. This time, congressmen were holding a copy of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) report on the said hike. But lawmakers were dissatisfied with the report. Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello even called the report “disrespectful,” saying the ERC failed to come up with acceptable answers a month after its investigation. ERC chairperson Zenaida Ducut admitted the agency was undermanned as only 4 people were assigned to monitor the spot market when prices went up. Meralco officials, meanwhile, said they could not have prevented the rate hike due to several factors. The Supreme Court currently has a temporary restraining order on the rate increase. -- ANC News Now, January 22, 2014