Customers to see June water bill reflecting actual consumption during ECQ —Manila Water

East zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc. on Thursday said its customers should expect their water bills to be delivered this month to reflect their actual consumption during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

This, as the water distribution utility said it resumed actual meter reading activities on May 16 and was able make “the necessary adjustments, where applicable, to any over- or under-billing made during the months of ECQ when consumption was averaged based on the last three months prior to the ECQ.”

“This June, Manila Water customers will receive a Statement of Account (SOA) that indicates actual billing and consumption from when the water meter was last read prior to ECQ (between Feb 16 - Mar 15, 2020) up to the time the meter was read again after ECQ (between May 16 - Jun 2020),” it said.

The actual consumption for the period covered by ECQ will be divided into three months.

The company noted that any payments made during the ECQ will also be considered in the SOA.

Customers may expect that their bill may reflect higher than normal consumption since the ECQ was during the summer season when customers normally use more water for bathing and washing, as well as frequent disinfection activities in relation to COVID-19 prevention.

Manila Water said it will be issuing a SOA that reflects the following:

•     Total Actual Consumption (Feb-May or Mar-Jun) – This is the total volume of water, in cubic meters, consumed from the time your meter was last read (either February or March 2020) up to May or June 2020, represented by the difference between these two readings.  
•     Monthly Consumption in Cubic Meter – This is the Total Actual Consumption broken down into three months. These numbers are already corrected from previous averaged consumption.
•     Bill Amount – These are the corresponding amounts to be paid based on monthly consumption. These may vary from the billings received during ECQ through bill inquiry channels as the latter were based on averaged consumption. Please refer to the amount reflected in the SOA for actual billings.
•     Current Charges – This represents the bill for your consumption for either May or June 2020 depending on when your meter reading cycle.
•     Previous Unpaid Amount (PUA) – This reflects the sum of past billings that have remained unpaid less adjustments. Any payments made during the ECQ are already considered.
•     Total Amount Due – This is the sum of the Current Charges and PUA. Any payments made during ECQ are already considered.
•     Payment History – This part lists the payments made, if any, during the past three months.
•     Details of Adjustments — This shows the monthly bill before and after adjustment.

“For areas still under ECQ, June 2020 billing will still be based on the average of the past three months’ consumption prior to ECQ,” Manila Water said.—AOL, GMA News