Duterte worried over high Meralco bills

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reviews a document during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on June 15, 2020. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has raised concern over the excessive electricity bill charged by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to its consumers during the quarantine period due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, Malacañang said Thursday.

In a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte understands the sentiments of Meralco customers.

“Nakarating na po iyan kay Presidente at siyempre, nabahala siya dahil sa panahon ng pandemya, hindi naman dapat bigyan ng additional pahirap na hindi naman kinakailangan ng ating mga kababayan (The President learned about it and expressed worry because amid the pandemic, he believes the public should not endure additional burden),” Roque said.

Meralco subscribers have been complaining about the sudden spike in their electricity bills since community quarantine was imposed in the country.

The supposedly high electricity rates have been charged against power consumers in May.

On May 15, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed Meralco to explain and show proof of its basis in calculating the kilowatt-hour for its customers, particularly for the billing periods of March, April, and May 2020.

In a statement released on June 10, the ERC announced that it issued a show-cause order to Meralco on May 29 for allegedly violating the commission’s directives related to bill advisories.

Meralco was given 10 days to explain why it should not be held liable for defying the guidelines on how to charge power users during the quarantine period.

Roque lauded the ERC for its swift response to address the unprecedented increase in electricity bills.

He said he would ask the ERC for an update on the show-cause order issued to Meralco.

“Ibang usapin pa po kung ano talaga ang magiging desisyon ng ERC doon sa pagsipa ng sinisingil ng kuryente sa ating mga mamamayan (It’s a different story as to what would the ERC’s decision be when it comes to the high electricity rates charged to our fellow countrymen),” Roque said.

Meralco estimated the March and April electricity bills by using its customers’ consumption in the past three months.

However, consumers were shocked by the sudden surge in their supposed electricity consumption for May.