POWER distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has extended the no-disconnection period, allowing consumers to settle their unpaid bills until October 31, 2020.
During the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability Monday, August 24, 2020, Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa said they have heeded the consumers’ request for extension.
The company earlier announced that the deadline for payment without disconnection was September 30.
“Ito po ay bilang tugon sa inyong request na i-extend ko po ‘yung suspension ng disconnection hanggang end ng October para mas mabigyan pa po ng panahon ang ating mga customers na makalikom ng sapat na pambayad sa kanilang mga bills,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa also said that around 2.77 million lifeline customers who consume 100 kilowatt-hours (kwh) or less monthly will receive a discount amounting to P101 million.
“Bilang tugon sa mungkahi ng Speaker Alan Cayetano, kami naman ay magbibigay ng relief or ayuda sa kanila equivalent to a total of P101 million mula sa aming distribution charge. Ang pagbabasehan namin dito ay ang mga lifeline customers as of February 2020,” he said.
“Ginagamit natin ang February 2020 kasi yun ang huling actual meter reading bago nagkaroon ng ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) at MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine), at dito malalaman natin sino ang mga lifeline customers na yun na inabutan ng ECQ at MECQ,” he added.
In May, the company received complaints from its consumers over huge electricity bills.
The Energy Regulatory Commission earlier called out the power distributor asking it to explain how it billed 6.9 million customers amid the lockdown. (SunStar Philippines)