Meralco billing customers based on 3-month average

MANILA, Philippines — Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will be charged a three-month average in this month’s billing as it suspends meter reading and bill delivery services amid the Luzon month-long quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Due to the enhanced community quarantine, Meralco is holding off on physical meter reading and bill deliveries,” Meralco said.

With the meter reading and bill delivery, Meralco said customers with meters scheduled to be read from March 17 to April 14, electricity consumption will instead be estimated based on their average consumption for the past three months.

This is in compliance with the rules prescribed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“The difference will be reflected on your next bill and corresponding charges will be adjusted,” Meralco said.

Earlier, Meralco said it would provide a 30-day payment extension for bills due from March 1 to April 14.

This comes before the Department of Energy (DOE) called on the power sector to defer payments of obligations and dues.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi issued a memorandum calling on public and private power sector corporations to defer payments of obligations and dues for 30 days after the conclusion of the enhanced community quarantine period on April 14.

“The Philippine energy family is in full solidarity with the entire nation in the battle against COVID-19. Energy services must be available 24/7 for everyone, most especially our frontline heroes who are risking their lives daily for the benefit of our fellow countrymen. The memo we issued is an additional measure to help keep the energy sector, as well as our stakeholders afloat during this time,” Cusi said.

Among the salient features of the memorandum include:

• The enjoinment of fuel/resource suppliers of generating facilities nationwide to extend the payment of obligations for 30 days from 14 April 2020. This includes payments to coal suppliers of generation facilities; payments of generation facilities for diesel, bunker, lubricants, and other derivative products of oil to their suppliers; payments of geothermal facilities to their steam suppliers; and payment of generation facilities for Malampaya natural gas;

• the extension of payments due to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., and the Independent Electricity Market Operator for 30 days from 14 April 2020;

• the immediate remittance of the DOE and generation companies to host beneficiaries of shares from electricity sales under the Energy Regulation No. 1-94 Funds, particularly the Reforestation, Water Management Health, Environment Enhancement Fund, provided that there has been a prior execution of a Memorandum of Agreement and an established trust account in accordance with Department Circular No. DC2018-08-0021 and its supplemental advisories;

• the encouragement of lessors of land for energy facilities nationwide to extend payment of rentals for 30 days from 14 April 2020;

• the encouragement of local government units hosting energy facilities to extend the payment deadline for applicable local taxes, fees or charges; and

• the enjoinment of distribution utilities nationwide to give their electricity consumers a 30-day extension for payment of bills due for the period of 15 March to 14 April 2020.

Following the DOE memorandum, state-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) enjoined the 121 electric cooperatives (ECs) to provide a 30-day payment extension for electricity bills.