The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should conduct a thorough review of Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) collection practices and actual electricity rates for the benefit of power consumers, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday, April 28.

Hontiveros made the call in light of the ongoing complaints of power consumers reeling from higher electricity bills from Meralco this month of April and criticisms against lifeline subsidies and other charges.

“I urge the ERC to lead a full, independent, and comprehensive review of existing practices and rates in relation to Meralco’s collections. And it should not hesitate to order the full refund of excessive charges Meralco has made over the years,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

Hontiveros also questioned the P14.17-billion refund ordered by the ERC on the utility firm, noting it is already insufficient and long overdue.

“Mabuti na ang may refund order, pero huwag naman sanang pinapaikot tayong mga konsyumer. Hangga’t hindi nila nababalik ang buong P100 billion in overcollections, bitin pa iyan lahat. Kahit yang P14.17 billion refund na iniutos ERC sa Meralco ay barya lang sa totoong dapat matanggap ng mga konsyumer (It's good that there is a refund order, but I they should not take fool us consumers…As long as they don’t return the entire P100-billion in overcollections, it won’t suffice. Even the P14.17-billion refund ordered the ERC on Meralco is just a fraction of what consumers should actually receive,” she pointed out.

“Sa katunayan, hindi pa nga ito bagong refund scheme. Ayon mismo sa ERC, ang P14.17B na ito ay parte ng hindi pa naibabalik na balanse mula sa P19.96 billion refund na nauna nang iniutos noong 2025 (In fact, this is not even a new refund scheme. According to the ERC itself, this P14.17B is part of the outstanding balance from the P19.96 billion refund previously ordered in 2025),” she stressed.

“Ibig sabihin: matagal nang may perang dapat bumalik sa konsyumer. Hanggang ngayon, hinihintay pa rin (This means: money should have been returned to consumers for a long time. Until now, they are still waiting),” she lamented.

“Mapa P14.17 o P19.96 billion, ang layo niyan sa P100 billion-- yan ang totoong halaga ng overcollection ng Meralco, na ayon sa mga advocates, ay mula sa high weighted average cost of capital (WACC), alleged overstatement of Meralco’s regulatory asset base (RAB) to justify higher charges, and possible double counting of inflation since 2012 (Whether it is P14.17 or P19.96 billion, that is far from P100 billion—that is the true amount of Meralco's overcollection, which according to advocates, is due to the high weighted average cost of capital (WACC), alleged overstatement of Meralco's regulatory asset base (RAB) to justify higher charges, and possible double counting of inflation since 2012),” she stressed.

Hontiveros lamented that every day Meralco fails to refund the overcharges, consumers are the ones who are forced to adjust household expenses.

Konsyumer na lang lagi ang naghihintay at nag-aadjust (It's always the consumers who wait and adjust),” she pointed out.

“Yung refund nila ay hulugan, pero yung napakalaking taas-singil, biglaan lang. Hindi dapat ganyan ang sistema. Bago ang kahit anong dagdag, ibalik muna ang sobra at itama muna ang singil (Their refunds are in installments, but the huge increase in charges is sudden. The system shouldn't be like that. Before any increase, first refund the excess and correct the charge),” she said.