ERC ORDERS POWER FIRMS FLEXIBLE PAYMENTS, HALTS DISCONNECTIONS IN KRISTINE-HIT AREAS


Households in areas declared under a state of calamity can expect an uninterrupted supply of electricity and flexible payment plans for bills until the end of 2024 (Photo courtesy of Meralco/Facebook)
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Thursday has ordered power distributors to suspend disconnections of electricity to some consumers in areas under state of calamity and implement flexible bills payment schemes until December to ease the burden of affected consumers.
In an advisory, ERC implemented four measures on Thursday, October 31, to help ease the burden on provinces affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. One key measure is a moratorium on electricity disconnections.
The ERC has ordered regional electric cooperatives and distribution utilities like Meralco to temporarily stop disconnections. If households consuming up to 200 kWh of electricity per month are unable to pay their bills on time, they should not be subject to power cuts under this suspension.
Under the second and third measures, households that consume less than and more than 200 kWh per month must have access to alternative payment methods from distribution utilities in impacted areas. These measures also establish flexible payment plans.
For households using up to 200 kWh, the ERC mandates that distribution utilities allow bills from October to December 2024 to be paid over six months after the statement of accounts has been issued.
However, the same cannot be said for households with a higher electricity usage. It is up to distribution utilities and their consumers to discuss alternative payment options as needed.
“Consumers are encouraged to contact their respective DIJS to inquire about the available alternative payment options or to request special terms to settle outstanding bills,” the ERC said in an advisory.
The same consideration will be given to distribution utilities for payments to power providers, enabling them to offer a staggered payment plan that corresponds with the conditions they offer to customers.
Power suppliers and service providers include the Generators, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Independent Power Products, Independent Power Producer Administrators and the Market Operator.
“Thus, the concerned distribution utilities shall segregate payments from the affected consumers to determine the amounts to be paid on a similar staggered basis,” the ERC said.
The action was taken in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s request that the ERC investigate the potential for either implementing a staggered payment plan or temporarily suspending the payment of electrical bills.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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