The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to refund almost P7.76 billion worth of overcharges from 2012 to 2015.
According to a decision dated March 8, 2022, but was only promulgated last week, Meralco will be allowed to return the amount to customers within 12 months starting on the next billing cycle after receiving the order.
Under ERC’s issuance, the refund will be provided to six customer types of Meralco, with the residential and general service type which includes homes, as well as non-industrial and industrial customers with a connected load of less than 40 kilowatts (kw), set to receive a refund of almost P0.47 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Meanwhile, flat streetlights or company-owned lights which are mounted on existing distribution poles will benefit from a rebate of almost P0.49 per kWh, while general service B customers or any business premise whose contracted capacity is between 5 kw and 39 kw will receive a refund of P0.30 per kWh.
Government hospitals, metered streetlights and charitable institutions will get a refund of almost P0.20 per kWh.
General power customers or non-industrial and industrial customers with a minimum demand of 40 kw will receive P0.13 per kWh.
Likewise, generator wheeling customers, or those which pay Meralco for the use of its distribution system or related services, will have the lowest refund at P0.06 per kWh.
Under the law, distribution utilities like Meralco as well as electricity cooperatives are required to file an application with the ERC for over or under recoveries of pass-through rates that they charge. -Jed Macapagal
