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MANILA, Philippines – A consumer rights group has asked if electrical service provider Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has been taking advantage of COVID-19 blockades to escape with sudden high electricity rates and outages.
The Power 4 People Coalition (P4P) urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Monday to investigate the matter, especially after several Meralco customers complained about electricity bills three times higher than their bills before Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
“We cannot help but feel that Meralco is using the ECQ as a convenient scapegoat to cover up its deficiencies. While it is understandable that people in the home consume more electricity, it is incredible that consumption increases three or four times more in just one month, “P4P coordinator Gerry Arances said in a statement.
“And it is incredible that when shopping centers, factories, offices and other large consumers of electricity are closed, the Meralco network is suddenly unable to cope with demand,” he added.
According to P4P, 52 trip incidents were recorded as of May 6, while they received multiple reports that consumption increased even if they suffered multiple power outages while the ECQ over Luzon and other areas were in place.
The group also called for measures to help people who would face huge bills, after the collection of public service payments was suspended under the ECQ, noting that many of the workers’ jobs were also suspended while the blockade was on. its place.
Republic Act No. 11469 or Bayanihan Heal as One Act has suspended payments for utilities and rental of residential units in areas under the ECQ.
After the ECQ was placed to limit local coronavirus transmission, work was discontinued except for essential first-line services. However, this has left workers dependent on daily earnings and those whose jobs cannot fit a work-from-home setting with no earnings through shutdown.
“People are already very stressed out from the ECQ. They worry about their jobs, feeding their families, paying rent, and paying for utilities. The least Meralco can do is provide the service that consumers overpaid for, ”Arances explained.
“Even if these payments are suspended, people still have to honor them after quarantine. The problem is that not everyone will have a job after the ECQ or be eligible to receive government assistance, “he added.
P4P also noted that Meralco has yet to reimburse clients, according to ERC regulations. On March 7, Meralco and 62 other energy distributors were ordered to make rebates worth P2 billion.
Previously, Bayan Muna President Neri Colmenares suggested that Meralco should forgo the full March bill instead of just extending payments, subtracting the overcharged annual distribution charges of P29.6 million from March billing.
READ: Instead of extending the invoice term, Meralco should give up the full March invoice – Colmenares
READ: ERC Instructs Meralco, 62 Other Power Distributors to Refund P2.8-B
“I would also like to remind Meralco of the rebates that it still owes to consumers. Now is the right time, after correcting bills, to give up bills toward satisfying your debt with people who overcharged for decades, “said Arances.
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