ERC directs power distributors to issue new billing, suspends collection of universal charge

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Friday ordered power distributors to issue new billing and suspended the collection of universal charge in light of the government’s imposition of various lockdown measures across the country.

In an advisory, the ERC directed distribution utilities (DUs) “to conduct actual meter readings and thereafter issue a new billing reflecting the actual consumption and the corresponding amount due, not later than 8 June 2020, except when actual reading is not possible due to the implementation of community quarantine.”

The power industry regulator issued the directive on the heels of the supposed “bill shock” in Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) consumers’ electricity bills this month.

The ERC and the Department of Energy (DOE) have since asked Meralco to explain how it came up with electricity bills during the three billing cycles covering the lockdown.

Sought for comment, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said they will comply with the ERC order.

"We will comply with the ERC order and will operationalize it bearing in mind and ensuring that our customers will understand their bill," he said.

"We will support the implementation using various information materials and platforms to make it easy to understand. Rest assured that we only have our customers' satisfaction and interest in mind as we implement this order."

The ERC also suspended “until further notice” the collection of the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge (UC-EC) equivalent to P0.0025 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Likewise, power distributors are ordered to allow their electricity customers with monthly consumption of 200 kWh and below in February 2020, a staggered payment of up to six equal monthly installments for their electricity bills falling due within the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) periods, the first monthly amortization to be made not earlier than 15 June 2020, without penalties, interests and other fees.

“For electricity customers with monthly consumption of above 200 kWh in February 2020, DUs shall allow a staggered payment of up to four equal monthly installments for their electricity bills falling due within the ECQ and MECQ periods, the first monthly amortization to be made not earlier than June 15, 2020, without penalties, interest and other fees,” it said.

The industry regulator ordered that subsequent installments for bills will be due every 15th of the month starting July 2020 until fully settled.

For this purpose, the DUs shall notify their consumers of the monthly installment falling due, the ERC said.

Meanwhile, electricity bills falling due in June 2020 shall be paid not earlier than June 30, 2020, without penalties, interest and other fees.

“Availment of Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) may be subjected to negotiation between the contracting parties, and DUs are reminded that benefits from such availment are required to be shared with their customers,” the ERC said.

“The DUs’ submission of power supply contract utilization report, record of payments received from customers, and record of payments made to suppliers, covering the period 16 March to May 31, 2020 shall be not later than June 30, 2020 to be emailed to tariffs@erc.gov.ph,” it said.

The power industry regulator also announced it will be adopting a combination of work-from-home and skeleton workforce work arrangements until June 30, 2020, consistent with the guidelines issued by the Civil Service Commission. --KBK, GMA News