The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has announced that power rates for the month of September will go down due to the low demand for power supply during the quarantine period.
In a statement, Meralco said a household consuming 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) is set to save around P12 this month. Households consuming 300 kWh, meanwhile, will save P19. For households consuming 400 kWh and 500 kWh will save P25 and P31, respectively.
Meralco Utility Economics Head Lawrence Fernandez said the limited operations of several establishments brought by quarantine protocols also contributed to the low power rates.
“Noong nagkaroon ng reimposition ng MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) for two weeks in August, nakakita rin tayo ng pag-reduce ng demand (During the reimposition of the MECQ for two weeks in August we saw a reduction on the demand) for the month of August and this was reflected in the rates this month,“ he said.
This is the fifth consecutive month that Meralco implemented power rate cuts in their overall charges.
Meanwhile, the electric company still has to confirm if they will also extend its ‘no disconnection policy’ which is set to end on October 31, 2020.
Meralco Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said the company has also yet to decide on the P20 million fine from the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) due to the bill shock.
“Our lawyers are studying the order of the regulator. Hopefully, soon, we will be able to give you a more concrete answer in so far as the penalty is concerned,” he said. -AAC (with reports from Asher Cadapan Jr.)
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