June 30, 2020 | 12:07 am
MANILA
Electric Co. (Meralco) is discussing if it will extend the moratorium in serving
disconnection notices to customers who still cannot settle any portion of their
unpaid bills, especially before the quarantine period.
In a press briefing on
Monday, the Philippines’ biggest distribution utility said it would not issue
any disconnection order until end-August.
“We will not issue any
order or disconnection [notice] until the end of August. Walang galawan muna
‘yan, (There will be no disconnection activities yet)” said Lawrence S.
Fernandez, Meralco head of utility economics.
But Joe R. Zaldarriaga, the company’s spokesperson, said: “Maaari pang
magbago ‘yan.” (It still might change.)
The distribution
utility has refrained itself from conducting disconnection activities as
consumers are still grappling with the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic on their livelihoods.
It was further stated
that Meralco has yet to determine who among customers are slated for
disconnection.
Agnes R. Macob, Meralco
head of commercial operations, said the company was deliberating the parameters
which will be the basis for disconnecting a customer from the distribution
line.
“But we are assuring
you that Meralco will be very, very considerate during this pandemic period,”
she added.
“Disconnection is
farthest from the mission that we have right now which is to provide 24/7
electricity service,” Mr. Zaldarriaga said.
Ms. Macob appealed to
customers who have not yet paid their bills prior to the strict lockdown period
in mid-March to settle those accounts around this time that disconnection
activities are still suspended.
Meralco is still finishing its actual meter readings, complying with the order
of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) after its previous estimated
computation of customers’ bills during the quarantine months has elicited
complaints.
It reiterated that the
present June bills reflect the accrued consumption of customers from March to
June based on actual readings.
Customers who have yet
to pay their bills in the past three months from June were advised that they
can settle those in portions in the next four or six months, as per the ERC
directive.
They will then receive
two bills each month: one for the installment payment and the other for the
monthly bill.
Still pressed with
complaints, Mr. Zaldarriaga said: “Sa sitwasyon ngayon, ang ginagawa namin
ay hina-handle namin isa-isa lahat ng mga customers’ concerns sa
kanilang individual electricity bills.” (Right now, we are resolving
customers’ concerns on their individual electricity bills one-by-one.)
“We vow to continue
engaging our customers one-on-one,” he added.
As of present, the
listed utility collected below half of all full payments of its 6.9 million
customers. Despite the low collection efficiency, Meralco is paying its
suppliers in full, according to Mr. Fernandez.
Meanwhile, Meralco said
it has yet to submit its response to the ERC ‘s show-cause order after it was
found to have allegedly violated some of regulator’s advisories during the
lockdown period.
Specifically, the regulator pointed out the alleged breach on its order on
estimated billing, the implementation of the former staggered payment scheme,
and the start of bills payments on May 30 for customers in areas under strict
lockdown.
“We believe that we
have complied with the existing regulations and directives set by the regulator
and we will explain in full to the Commission the basis for our actions and
compliance,” Jose Ronald V. Valles, Meralco’s first vice-president and head of
regulatory management, earlier said.
Meralco’s controlling
stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary
MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the
Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Adam J. Ang
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