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Meralco vows to refund or credit payments for 'overestimated' bills


Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Wednesday said it would refund or credit the amount it may have overcharged those who have already paid their electricity bills for May.

“The customers’ option is to get a refund in the Meralco business center and kung hindi kumuha ng refund pwede rin i-credit ‘yan sa future bill ng customer,” Meralco first vice president and Customer Retail Service head Victor Genuino said during the House committee on energy virtual hearing.

Genuino explained two scenarios how some billings for the month were “underestimated” and “overestimated.”

Under the first scenario, homes with residents who are studying and/or working from home use more appliances for longer hours, he said, have lower estimated bills than actual consumption when the actual reading in May was conducted.

For the second scenario, these are customers with low or no consumption such as those who move out of their condos to return to their provinces but their estimated bills are higher than actual consumption with May actual reading.

Customers of the company have complained of the unusual spike in their May bills.

Meralco has since explained that the May bill is comprised of actual consumption for the month plus the estimated consumption in March and April —which was computed based on the average three-month consumption prior the quarantine.

PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said the formula of “actual meter reading minus estimate” used by Meralco is “problematic” because for high consumption users, the company will be actually subsidizing the cost of their electricity while it is unfair for those with low or no consumption.

To correct the bill, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed distribution utilities to conduct actual meter readings and thereafter issue a new billing reflecting the actual consumption and the corresponding amount due, not later than June 8, 2020. 

For customers who have not yet paid their bills, Genuino said they should wait for the new bill before making any payment.

For those entitled for a refund, Meralco head of Regulatory Affairs Jose Ronald Valles said the company will consult with the ERC on how refunding will be equitable for cases of overestimation. -NB, GMA News

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