Meralco customers advised to wait for refund notice

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) advised its residential customers to wait for notices in their electric bills to determine their eligibility for a meter deposit refund. Besides indicating the Meralco Business Center branch from which they can claim their refunds, the notice will also indicate the date as to when they can visit these business centers. Customers are requested to “wait for the notice in [their] electric bills before going to any Meralco Business Center for [their] convenience," Meralco First Vice President and Head of Customer Retail Services Roberto R. Almazora said in a statement. “If you would like to check if you are eligible or when and where to go, you can call our Call Center at 1622-8888 or 632-8888, email meterdeposit@meralco.com.ph or log on to www.meralco.com.ph," he said. “Those who paid for the meter deposit during the years it was required by law are entitled to get the amount they paid plus the corresponding interest that was set by the Energy Regulatory Commission," Almazora clarified. Eligible residential customers are Registered Customers who paid the meter deposit required by law from 1987 to 2004. To get their meter deposit refund (MDR) first are Registered Customers in the residential category with lower kilowatthour consumption. Then, it will be Registered Customers in the residential category with higher KWh consumption. After eligible residential customers, it will be the turn of qualified non-residential customers to be notified. These are those who paid the meter deposit required by law from 1987 to 2006. The MDR schedule will make sure that with orderly processing and complete documents, eligible customers can be attended to promptly. Eligible residential customers with small consumption will be notified first followed by those with bigger consumption. Eligible residential customers will have to go the Business Center specified in the bill during the period stated, fill out a Refund Application Form available in the Business Center, and attach required documents to begin the processing of their MDR. They can choose to receive the MDR amount in cash if the MDR amount is P4,000 or less; in check if the MDR amount is more than P4,000; or apply the amount to future electric bills; or apply the amount to current unpaid bills or amounts to be paid to Meralco. For Registered Customers (RCs), needed documents are: original Meter Deposit Receipt, filled-out Refund Application Form (available at Meralco Business Centers or downloadable from the Meralco website www.meralco.com.ph), one valid ID with picture and signature and original copy of your electric bill where your MDR schedule is indicated which is not a requirement but will help in verification. Only those who paid the meter deposit as part of their service application during the required years are entitled to be reimbursed for it. Included in the MDR amount is the principal amount paid plus the interest set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). More details are available at www.meralco.com.ph or email meterdeposit@meralco.com.ph or call 1622-8888 or 632-8888. - GMANews.TV