ERC studying issuance of new advisory for electricity bill payments in Cebu City

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is still studying if another advisory shall be issued for the payment of electricity bills in Cebu City which has slipped back to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Appearing at a Senate hearing, ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera was asked on its directives to local distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the city.

"We have not issued any advisory regarding the declaration on Cebu but we shall look into that, considering that that is the only remaining area now that has gone back to ECQ," she said. "We'll have to consider those things."

In April, the ERC ordered distribution utilities to allow their customers to pay their power consumption during the ECQ in four monthly installments.

In May, it announced that residential consumers utilizing 200kWh per month may opt to make staggered payments in six months.

Duterte placed Cebu City back to ECQ on June 16 due to the presence of community transmission of the virus and the increasing critical care utilization in the area. Same quarantine protocols will be implemented until July 15.

There are over 5,000 COVID-19 cases in Cebu City as of July 4. It is on top of the country's list of provinces and cities with the highest number of infections, followed by Quezon City and Manila City. —LDF, GMA News