Meralco assures no disconnections until September 30

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is extending the suspension of disconnection activities until the end of September, which it earlier announced will only be until August 31.

This was announced by Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa during the House committee on energy hearing on the power distributor’s alleged spike in electricity bills.

“No disconnection until September 30 of this year,” Espinosa said.

Early this week, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga announced that disconnection activities are suspended until August 31 as the company is currently focused on ensuring the stable electricity connection. 

During the House probe, Meralco vice president Victor Genuino provided updates on Meralco’s compliance with its relevant Energy Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy directives on payment extension and installment payments during the community quarantine periods.

Genuino said Meralco has discontinued the delivery of estimated billings particularly for bills from May 15 onwards.

“The bills that have been released since then are based on actual readings that we are able to get from the meters,” he said.

The Meralco official noted that the company has read 99% the meters of its franchise area and already indicated in the June bill that the “meter has been read and it is clearly stated at the front of the bill.”

Genuino also gave the following updates:

-For services with first actual readings in May since February/March, delivery of the first installment plan bill due June 15 (covering March/April and May) began June 2
-For services with first actual meter reading in June since February/March, delivery of the ‘Special’ June bill covering the consumption for March/April, May and June began June 17. Delivery of the first installment payment bill due July 15 (covering March/April, May and June) began July 1
-Commercial and industrial customers will be billed based on actual usage; -Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand will not be implemented during the ECQ/MECQ period (March 16-July 31)
-Meralco shouldered the convenience fee charged for Meralco Online transactions during the ECQ period and will refund to the customers said fees, amounting P12.6 million refunded in June
-Meter reading costs not incurred during the ECQ/MECQ period for 11.5 million customers bills amounting to P60 million to be refunded beginning July 15

Early in June, Meralco explained that the June bills will reflect the power consumption during the entire enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 

Meralco then said that customers will have until June 30 to pay 25% of the bill, while the remaining 75% 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.

Zaldarriaga said the company has been facing a number of complaints given the increase registered in the June bills, following the "bill shock" experienced in May.

"Ang ginagawa namin ay hina-handle na namin isa isa 'yung customers' concerns sa kanilang individual electricity bills. We will address and we vow to continue engaging all of our customers one on one," he said.

"It is definitely challenging. We will not deny that and we understand also that marami sa mga customers namin ay talagang marami pa ring tanong," he elaborated. —LDF, GMA News