Power consumers can breathe a sigh of relief, at least until September this year, after the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) agreed to the proposal of the Committee on Energy of the House of Representatives to push back all its disconnection activities to ease the burden of customers still grappling from the impact of the pandemic.
In the hearing on Thursday of the energy panel chaired by
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Meralco vice president and head of customer
retail services and corporations communications Victor Genuino assured that the
country’s largest distributor of utility will extend the moratorium in issuing
disconnection notices to enable its customers settle their unpaid electricity
bills incurred during the quarantine period.
At the prodding of Velasco to halt the issuance of any order
to disconnect the power supply of those who are unable to settle their bills on
time, Genuino promised to extend the ban on disconnection and put notices on
hold, which was previously set by Meralco until the end of August.
“Can we request Meralco to extend the period guaranteeing
that there will be no disconnection to give people more time to recover and get
back on their feet as their work resumes and businesses reopen?” the Marinduque
lawmaker raised, to which the Meralco official answered in affirmative.
At the continuation of the hearing into the alleged spike in
the electricity bills, particularly from Meralco, and the steps being taken to
address complaints, Velasco presented several grievances by angry consumers
ranging from overcharging, double charging, surge in consumption versus the
months prior to pandemic even when businesses were closed during the quarantine
or houses were unoccupied, payments not credited properly, and delay in refunds,
among others.
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“These complaints bring additional stress to people. Meralco needs to fix its systems and improve its customer service,” Velasco said, as he reminded the power company of its commitment to its customers as a public utility franchisee.
“Their performance should be able to erase any confusion or
any doubt on Meralco whose franchise and services are imbued with public
interest,” the Marinduqe solon added. “And hopefully, at the end of the day,
‘yung duty ng franchise ninyo talaga is to give better service to the Filipino
people.”
Velasco also empathizes with the consumers who feel that
their complaints are falling on deaf ears. “That’s why thru the committee
ipinaparating nating ang concerns ng mga tao sa Meralco. Pakigandahan ang
customer service ninyo. Kung kinakailangang magdagdag kayo ng tao para magawa
ito. Maraming mga kababayan natin ngayon ang walang trabaho, baka makatulong pa
kayo habang ginagawa ninyo ang serbisyo ninyo.”
Among those who attended the hearing were Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Agnes Devanadera, Department of Energy Director Mario Marasigan, and representatives from consumer groups and Meralco.
– C Bayarcal,
Office of Lone Representative of Marinduque
