By Noreen Jazul
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered distribution utilities to divide the March 15 to April 30 electric bill of its consumers into four installments.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Instead of paying one-time for the electricity consumed during the quarantine period, ERC Chairman Agnes Devanadera said the total bill will be distributed in the next four bills of the consumers.
For example, if the consumer’s total bill from March 15 to April 30 is P4,000, his or her electric bill for the months of May, June, July, and August will have an added charge of P1,000.
“Ang suma tutal niyan binigyan natin ng pag- kakataon na maging installment sa loob ng apat na buwan ang ating electricity bill. Then yung kasalukuyang bill ng Mayo babayaran din,” Devanadera said.
Devanadera said the electricity bill for the quarantine period will have no interest or penalty.
The ERC has also removed the feed-in tariff allowance which is four centavos per kilowatt-hour and suspended the renewal of bill deposit.
The ERC chairman, meanwhile, said the distribution companies cannot simply heed to calls to waive electricity fees.
“Di pwedeng libre na lang. Gumastos din daw kasi ang mga power plant,” Devanadera said.
“Of course, negosyo ‘yan. Ngayon kung walang kita ang mga negosytane niyan, eh baka di na umandar etong ating mga generation companies,” she added.