By
Lenie Lectura - June 22, 2017
The Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) has promulgated early this month the rules on electronic billing
(e-billing) and communications for electricity consumers.
The said rules are
meant to offer an alternative means for distribution utilities (DUs) to
dispatch bills and other communications to consumers through online platforms.
The e-Billing Rules
provide that all customers may opt to receive electronic bills and/or other
electronic communication in lieu of paper-based bills and communications from
their concerned DUs.
Existing customers can
migrate to receiving electronic bills and other communications upon notice from
the DU and subject to the ERC and the concerned DU’s rules and regulations on
electronic billing and communications. New customers, on the other hand,
may exercise this option at the time of the approval of the application for
electric service.
“The e-Billing Rules
[were] developed to utilize advance technologies, in order to streamline and
enhance the issuance and delivery of electricity bills and other communications
to consumers,” ERC Officer In Charge Alfredo J. Non said.
The e-billing rules
shall apply to all DUs within their respective franchise areas and their
customers. It will cover all communications and bills issued by the DU in
relation to an approved contract for electric service of a customer.
Under the rules, DUs
are required to draft their own procedure on e-billing; provide options for
consumers on how to receive e-bills; and conduct an annual revalidation of
e-mails of actual end-users.
On the part of the
customers, if they choose to receive their bills electronically, they have to
provide an e-mail address, where the documents will be forwarded and
conscientiously check for any and all receipts of electronic bills and/or other
electronic communications. Consumers must also inform the DU if they are new
occupants of a property to allow the latter to update their e-billing address.
In any case, customers
are allowed to revert to receiving paper bills subject to the respective
procedures set by DUs.
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