ERC issues rules on electricity e-billing

Published June 22, 2017, 10:01 PM By Myrna M. Velasco

http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/06/22/erc-issues-rules-on-electricity-e-billing/

Paperless transaction on electricity consumers’ bills will now be a trend following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval of the rules on electronic billing (e-billing) policy in the restructured power industry.

As prescribed, an electronic version of the monthly billing statement to customer “can be accessed via online portal or website, or sent to the customer through email or push messaging, and/or other electronic forms.”

The DUs, it was noted, may opt to send electronic billing to their subscribers but shall be at the consent of the customer.

Such e-billing system, it was emphasized, shall not preclude the preference of any customer to still receive his/her bill in paper form.

“All customers shall be given the option to receive electronic bills and/or electronic communication in lieu of paper bills and communications from their respective distribution utilities,” the ERC rules emphasized.

And upon the assent of the customer to go for paperless billing, it now rests upon him/her “to regularly and religiously check his/her email or the medium of communication selected by the said customer for any and all receipts of electronic bills and/or other electronic communications.”

For DUs subscribing into this form of service, the ERC specified that they shall be adopting their own e-billing rules – with prescribed submission of such to the ERC within 30 days for its approval.

“If no action was taken on the said submission, the said rules shall automatically become effective upon the expiration of the 30-day period,” the regulatory body has stipulated.

The offer of such service to customers, it added, can be suspended by the regulator if concerned DUs would be found adopting procedures “inconsistent with (the) rules.”

For new power customers, they are advised to exercise proclivity for an e-billing, “at the time of the approval of the application for electric service.”

While for existing customers, they must be “allowed to migrate to receiving electronic bills and/or other communications upon notice from the distribution utility.”