Zarate calls on Meralco to waive power rate increase in August

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate on Tuesday urged the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to waive its power rate increase this August.

In a statement, Zarate said this would just be another burden to Filipinos amid the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

He added that this is the fifth consecutive power rate hike since March, which could translate to an increase of around P19 in the total electricity bill of customers consuming 200 kWh.

"This is another burden to consumers who are now under enhanced community quarantine, locked up in their homes and have no means of livelihood," Zarate said.

"In fact, the ayuda to be given this week of P1,000 per person and maximum of P4,000 per household is not enough even if it is used just for food expenses and now they have another expense to bear due to the power rate hike," he added.

Zarate said waiving the power rate hike would not mean the closure or bankruptcy of the distribution company but a great help to consumers who were hardly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to higher transmission charges, Meralco earlier said it will hike rates by 9.65 centavos per kilowatt-hour (/kWh), bringing the rate to P9.0036/kWh versus July’s P8.9071/kWh.

Meralco also said it has suspended disconnection activities in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces as stricter quarantine restrictions are reimposed. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News