Meralco eyes roll out prepaid power

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MANILA – The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is eyeing for a commercialized roll out prepaid electricity by the first quarter next year.

A total of 40,000 households in Metro Manila area will be the initial target of Meralco.

This is following the current pilot testing conducted in more than 1,000 households in Taytay, Cainta, and Angono Rizal; and Sampaloc, and Tondo in Manila.

Based on the feedback of the consumers included in the pilot testing, the savings run around 23-30 percent compared to the existing monthly payment scheme, according to Meralco’s head for the central business area, Ferdinand Geluz.

Several journalists were brought in Sampaloc where a row of apartments were shifted in the prepaid power scheme.

The new prepaid system has an easier reloading process similar to loading credits into a mobile phone.

The consumers are alerted when it is about time to reload through a text message sent to consumers three days before the load value is fully consumed.

Several load retailers are also available within the community to cater to the prepaid consumers.

Other consumers may also opt to reload in the nearest Meralco branch.

According to Meralco, there are already 12,000 applicants interested to shift to the prepaid scheme.