Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday said it has issued a show cause order to Meralco on May 29, giving them 10 days to explain the following alleged violations:
– The utilization of estimated billing and that the word “estimate” be clearly written on the bill
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — Meralco will resume charging its customers ₱47 for settling their bills online after Metro Manila shifted to a relaxed general community quarantine.
At the hearing of the House Committee on Public Accountability and Good Government, Meralco Senior Vice President William Pamintuan said they only waived the convenience fees from March 16 to May 15 since most of their business centers and other payment channels were closed at the time due to strict stay-at-home measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
– The cumulative amount of electric bills during the ECQ period should be amortized in 4 equal monthly installments
But since the region shifted from enhanced community quarantine to GCQ on June 1, Pamintuan said customers now have several options on how to pay their bills.
– Payments of customers in areas under ECQ should start no earlier than May 30
“Because we have already opened under the GCQ, most of our business centers and other payment channels are now available to consumers, the waiver of the ₱47 has effectively ceased, Mr. Chairman. Our consumers now have options in terms of how to pay their bills. And because of the opening of our business centers, the waiver will not be effective anymore,” he said on Tuesday.
Meralco waived charging the convenience fee last month after the Department of Energy received various complaints from its customers. The power distributor also refunded the amount charged to customers.
Quezon City Rep. Onyx Crisologo appealed to Meralco to continue to waive the convenience fee since customers may have difficulty going to payment centers due to the limited operation of public transport in Metro Manila.
“Sana po intindihin din ng Meralco, if you can possibly still waive it because kahit naman GCQ na tayo and open na po ang business centers ninyo, ang mga normal na tao, mga mamamayan natin, wala po silang transportation. Especially ‘yung mga nagco-commute, malayo ang kanilang babaybayin,” he said.
[Translation: I hope Meralco understands and waives the fees. Even if we are on GCQ and business centers are open, majority of Filipinos are still struggling with the availability of public transportation.]
