At A Glance
- <img src="https://images.mb.com.ph/production/mb-mkt-neo-prod-1-uploads-2/media/MORE_Power_s_bill_deposit_refund_to_customers_74d5a3b626/MORE_Power_s_bill_deposit_refund_to_customers_74d5a3b626.jpg" alt="MORE Power's bill deposit refund to customers.jpg">
- Some of the MORE Power customers who availed of their bill deposit refunds.
Razon-led MORE Electric and Power Corporation is expanding the base of its customers that have been availing of refund for their bill deposits, in compliance with the mandate of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
In a statement to the media, MORE Power indicated that at least 175 customers already sought bill deposit payback; and within this month, total amount returned so far reached P589,000.
By the end of this year, the company is anticipating pay-back amount escalating to as much as P3.3 million ; and will be covering 777 eligible customers.
The power utility, which is servicing consumers in Iloilo City, has started its bill deposit refund process since June this year, following a ruling issued by the ERC.
MORE Power President and CEO Roel Z. Castro emphasized that the funds accruing from the bill deposits of customers “do not belong to the company,” hence, following the regulator’s verdict on payback, the utility firm indicated that it was more than ready to give it back to their subscribers.
“Since we have no intention of using or retaining these funds for our operations, it's only fair to promptly return them to our customers," Castro stressed.
As prescribed under Article 7 of the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers, distribution utilities are mandated to refund the bill deposit of their customers after three (3) years or 36 months of paying on time and if they did not have any record of service disconnection.
MORE Power said it has been “proactively reaching out to customers,” qualifying that part of the effort it has been exerting is to notify its subscribers on their warranted bill deposit refund, thus, “eliminating the need for them (customers) to initiate the refund process.”
The company chief executive further asserted “we consistently go the extra mile to inform eligible customers about the refund process.”
To further speed up the refund undertaking, the Iloilo power utility is calling on its customers who are not yet registered on its electronic billing (e-billing) system to avail of such service or they can also scan the QR code posted on the company’s Facebook page, that way, they can also join the promotional activities being carried out by the company.