Advocacy group raises concerns over alleged overcharging by Meralco

A consumer advocacy group raised their concerns to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) over Meralco's alleged overcharging of fees for services worth about P160 billion.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Maki Pulido on Thursday, the ERC had asked Meralco to charge P1.35 per kilowatt hour. The amount should include the metering charge and supply charge.

However, according to the National Association Of Electricity Consumer For Reform (Nasecore) said if consumers check the back page of their electric bill they will find that Meralco charged P2.90 for distribution, P0.33 for metering and P0.49 for supply charge.

The amount is allegedly P1.57 more than the rate per kilowatt hour designated by the ERC in June 2022.

“Imu-multiply mo lang yan sa energy sales niya sa isang taon na kinuha natin sa website nila. Sa isang taon pa lamang, lumabas na P82 billion. Kung dinoble natin, dalawang taon, P164.5 billion na ito,” said Pete Ilagan from Nasecore.

(You can multiply that to the energy sales in a year, which we gathered from their website. In just one year, it sums up to P82 billion. If we double that for two years, it’s already P164.5 billion.)

Some Meralco users said the extra money that they paid could have been allotted for other commodities.

For consumer Jussel Rosas, following Nasecore’s calculations, this means that she was overcharged by P1,122 by Meralco.

The amount is from multiplying P1.57 alleged overcharged with 715 kilowatt hour power consumption.

“Pangkain araw-araw… Dapat ‘dun mapunta ‘yun,” said Rosas.

(Our daily food budget… It should have gone there.)

The overcharge, according to Nasecore, is illegal.

This prompted the group to send a letter to the ERC to stop the alleged overcharging.

“Malaki ang dagok nito, malaki ang epekto nito sa kanilang prangkisa. Dapat ka pa bang pagkatiwalaan ng mga tao?” Ilagan said.

(This is a big blow, big effect to their franchise. Should the people really trust them?)

The ERC confirmed that they asked Meralco to charge P1.35 for distribution, but said that this the average rate. And with the average rate, the rates vary depending on amount of consumption and customer class.

The ERC verifying the data they can answer the letter from Nasecore.

GMA Integrated News has already reached out to Meralco for their statement on the issue.

With the P1.35 distribution charge designated by the ERC, the Meralco is willing to refund P19 Billion from their overcharges.

However, Nasecore pointed out that despite this, Meralco is asking for an additional P0.33 as distribution charge.

“Nagsosoli ka na nga e, sa P1.35. Bakit mo itataas sa P1.66? Ano ba naman ito? It’s absurd, unreasonable,” Ilagan said.

(You’re already refunding with P1.35. Why are you increasing it to P1.66? What is this? It’s absurd and unreasonable.)

The ERC said Meralco just filed a petition to increase the power rate and this will have to go through a public hearing and evaluation is this is justified.

Jussel Rosas, on her part, voiced hope that the electric power distribution company consider consumers like her who always have to look for ways to earn to be able to pay their electric bill. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News