Marcos questions Meralco's 'price increase' amid quarantine

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said that the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) should not impose higher rates among residential consumers who were forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Anong K magtaas ng presyo? Bumagsak na demand ng 30% nitong mga nakaraang buwan, unti-unting tataas sa modified ECQ at GCQ, pero di pa rin full summer load," Marcos said in a statement, referring to the enhanced and general community quarantines.

''Lalong walang benta, lalong tataas ang presyo. Di ba dapat baliktad? Pag mahina ang konsumo dapat ibagsak ang presyo?" she addded.

Futher, the senator said the power company should try to recover when the country's economy reopens and must not mete out higher electricity bills to "hapless homeowners stuck in quarantine."

The statement was released after consumer rights group Power 4 People Coalition raised the complaints of many consumers on receiving electricity bills amounting to thrice as high as their regular monthly consumption. It urged the Energy Regulatory Commision (ERC) to investigate the matter.

Meralco, on the other hand, reportedly refuted the group's allegation on taking advantage of the situation and maintained that the bills were "carefully and fairly calculated."

In an advisory posted on its official Facebook page last May 11, Meralco said its consumers may expect higher electricity bills this month.

The April and March bills were estimated based on average consumption for the past three months due to suspended meter-reading activities amid the ECQ, it said.

"Maaaring mas mataas din ang konsumo natin ngayon dahil during ECQ, naging #NewNormal ang staying and working from home, at sinamahan pa ng summer," it added.

The bills for the month of May in some areas where meter-reading has resumed already reflects the actual consumption, according to Meralco.

Last month, the ERC approved the four-month staggered payment of electricity bills that fall within the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
Meralco assured its customers that it will abide with the directive. -MDM, GMA News