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MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to reconsider an order for the distribution giant to relieve low-income residential consumers out of a total of more than P200 million. , to provide Lifeline customers with a respite from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Meralco said on Monday it had paid a P19 million fine, which the ERC imposed for the company’s failure to comply with various directives the regulator issued during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ.
“[We] filed a motion for partial reconsideration regarding the directive to provide a discount on the retail rate to Lifeline customers, ”the company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
“Pending the resolution of the [motion], Meralco will implement the retail rate discount in its October 2020 billing, ”the company added.
On August 27, Meralco said that it was seeking available legal remedies for this ERC decision, saying that it has “fully complied” with the warnings in question issued by ERC.
On the same day, in a statement explaining the decision, the ERC said that it ordered Meralco to “set to zero”, only for a monthly billing, the collection of distribution, supply and metering charges in the invoices that will be issued to the Lifeline customers. —Referring to households that are billed no more than 100 kilowatt-hours per month.
According to ERC’s calculations, this discount for Lifeline customers amounts to at least P200 million.
“It is our position that there is no basis to impose that on Meralco,” company spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga told the Inquirer. “However, we committed to implementing the retail rate discount in the October 2020 billing subject to the resolution of the [motion for partial reconsideration]. “
In August, Meralco President Ray Espinosa told the House of Representatives committee on good governance and public responsibility that the company was preparing to provide relief to its clients, in response to a suggestion from President Alan Peter Cayetano.
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