SENATORS Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday asked the Manila Electric Company to come up with an accurate reading of its customers electricity usage amid numerous complaints of high billing statements incurred during the lockdown period that started mid-March.
“Still reeling from the COVID-19 backlash, the last thing our consumers need are shocking electricity bills that could throw them off-track anew. While we recognize the efforts of Meralco to explain, the confusing billings and unusually high charges have left many households in distress, especially those who lost their sources of income due to the lockdown,” said Poe, chairwoman of the Senate committee on public services.
“We ask Meralco to issue a final and correct billing based on accurate meter reading of the actual kilowatt-hour consumption,” she added.
She also called for compassion from Meralco which she should make sure there will be no disconnection of service “while they are stuck at home during the quarantine.”
Gatchalian, chair of the energy committee, said Meralco should abide by rules of the Energy Regulatory Commission on the right computation of electricity consumption.
Meralco earlier said that since meter readings were not done in March and April due to the ECQ, customer bills were based on their average consumption in the preceding months when the weather was cooler. It said consumers have actually used more electricity since they remained at home due to the lockdown.
