By JORDEENE B. LAGARE February 11,
2019
A total of P26.28 billion was
collected by distribution utilities (DUs) as bill deposits from consumers as of
January this year.
Bill deposits are collected from
electricity consumers applying for new and/or additional service and from
disconnected consumers who were previously not subject to bill deposits.
It should be equivalent to the
estimated billing for one month based on the load schedule of the consumer to
guarantee payment of his bills.
The amount represents the total bill
deposits collected by both private utilities and electric cooperatives as of
January 23, 2019, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said in statement.
Meanwhile, the ERC commended 10
electric cooperatives for waiving the collection of bill deposits from their
respective customers. In Luzon, these are Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(Beneco); Lubang Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Lubelco); Nueva Vizcaya
Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nuvelco); Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative,
Inc. (Ormeco); and Quirino Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Quirelco).
In Visayas, these are the Cebu I
Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Cebeco I) and Bantayan Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(Banelco) while in Mindanao, these are Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative,
Inc. (Laneco); Misamis Occidental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Moelci II);
and Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Lasureco) did the same thing.
“ERC commends these Electric
Cooperatives for exerting efforts to reduce their consumers’ electric bill by
not charging and collecting Bill Deposits and, thus, increasing their
purchasing power,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said.
“We encourage the other DUs to
forego the charging of bill deposit, considering that there is no additional
cost incurred and accrued to them. If foregoing the collection of Bill Deposit
is not possible, it is but fair and appropriate that the customers be entitled
to some interests which the commission is now ironing out,” she added.
The ERC is currently revisiting its
rules on bill deposits to include provisions that will protect consumers’
interests. Under the draft rules, all DUs are required to submit the total
amount of bill deposits collected and interest earned at the end of the
following month, the total amount of bill deposits and interest refunded for
the last five years, and sample electricity bills showing the refund of bill
deposit and/or amount of interest credited to their monthly bills, all within
90 days following the effectivity of the rules.
It also mandates DUs to prepare and
submit a periodic report about details of the total amount of bill deposit
collected including interest earned and the amount credited or refunded to its
customers on or before May 31 of every year.
They should also post on their
websites details regarding bill deposits in clear and simple language
understandable to the customers.
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