PPL says ICCC ‘dirty’

PNG Power Limited (PPL) has accused Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) officials of seeking favours in return for processing its submission for tariff increase for power, and warned it was taking the matter up with the ministers responsible.
The favours accusation was stated in a press release by chief executive officer Patrick Mara last Friday.
The accusation was flatly rejected by the ICCC officials, who contacted The National.
They said they were not aware of what Mr Mara was talking about.
Mr Mara detailed how the tariff submission for 2007 was presented to ICCC in December 2006.
The submission failed the altering tariff deadline, but ICCC used its discretion to accept it “on the proviso that PPL purchase business class airfares for its officer to process this submission on Dec 27, 2006” which PPL did, according to Mr Mara.
He said the approved increase was for 11.93% for 2007 tariff rates. However, PPL decided on a 2.54% increase for 2007. This left the balance (9.39%) at the discretion of PPL.
He said PPL’s submission for 2008 tariff rates was rejected, but they were advised to use the approved maximum increase, which is 9.39% from tomorrow.
Mr Mara said he found ICCC Commissioner Thomas Abe’s rejection totally confusing, and change of discretionary use not justifiable.
He said he would take the matter up with Minister for Finance Patrick Pruaitch and Minister for State Enterprises Arthur Somare.