Meralco customers to be billed for ECQ power consumption this June

Meralco customers can expect to be charged for their power consumption during the entire enhanced community quarantine in their June bill, Vonne Aquino reported Saturday on 24 Oras Weekend.

“Lahat na po ng mga Meralco customers... ay nabasahan na ng kanilang mga metro at padadalhan ng mga bills na may actual na nilang konsumo [from March to May plus June],” explained Meralco Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga.

However, the power company explained that customers would have until June 30 to pay for 25 percent of the June bill.

The remaining 75 percent could be paid in installments – a six-month payment plan for customers who consumed 200 kilowatts per hour or less last February, and a four-month plan for those who consumed more than 200 kWh.

Customers who wished to avail of the installment payment plan would receive two bills: a regular bill and an installment plan bill.

The installment plan bill will contain the customer's total power consumption during the enhanced community quarantine. It will also contain the installment payments they need to pay and the schedule for payments.

However, National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. President Pete Ilagan argued that Meralco was going about this the wrong way.

“Ito, Mayo pa ito, eh, within the ECQ period ito. Dapat hindi nila ito nilabas na biling,” argued Ilagan. “Dapat, ang unang lumabas sa atin na biling ay yung billing ng buwan outside or after na ng ECQ.”

Meanwhile, for customers who received estimated March and April bills but these had not been paid, Meralco said customers could set these aside.

But if these March and April estimated charges had been paid, the necessary adjustments would be made in future bills.

Furthermore, the power company promised that they would, at least for now, not be shutting off services from customers who would find it difficult to settle their bills. — DVM, GMA News