Thursday, February 27, 2014

DTI summons ERC over Meralco billings

Malacanang on Thursday said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has summoned the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) following consumer complaints on the Meralco billing.
Meralco, power rate, Manila Bulletin
Consumers who received confusing Meralco billing statements for February are encouraged to report it to the Department of Trade and Industry. (photo from meralco.com.ph)
“We received word that the Office of the DTI – Consumer Protection Group (CPG) under Usec. Victorio Dimagiba has summoned the ERC and Meralco regarding the consumer complaints about the latest Meralco billing,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
She said the meeting was held Wednesday morning at the DTI main office in Makati City.
The Palace official has urged the public to file a complaint before the DTI with regards to their latest Meralco billing if they find it confusing.
“As a general rule, I’m not speaking of specifics, whenever the DTI receives particular consumer-related complaints, they do work with the business or the corporation and question to address these complaints,” Valte said.
Consumers expressed confusion after their Meralco bill for February showed a “total amount due” and “total current bill amount.”
Meralco was seeking for a power rate hike to be implemented in three tranches: P2.41 per kilowatt hour (kWh) last December; P1.21/kWh this February; and P0.53/kWh in March. The said power rate hike was said to be the highest power rate increase if implemented.
The implementation of the power rate hike, however was blocked by a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court (SC).   source

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