Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is seeking regulatory approval to return approximately ₱9 billion to its customers, adding to an existing multi-billion peso refund program aimed at easing the burden of high electricity costs. In an interview, Ronald Valles, Meralco head of regulatory management,...
Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill that seeks to remove the value-added tax (VAT) on systems loss charges. Hontiveros noted that the VAT on systems loss charges are currently being passed on to electricity consumers’ monthly bills—a “double burden” on top of the “already absurd”...
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has called out the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) over possible fake news and disinformation on the issue of the alleged bloated electricity bills at a time of great economic hardship for many Filipinos. "Rising electricity costs is a real concern which...
Malacañang said Congress should revisit the country’s lifeline rate system to ensure a fair and balanced distribution of electricity subsidies, amid growing concerns from consumers over rising power bills. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this as Meralco...
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has been asked to implement a staggered increase on electricity bills to prevent consumers suffer from “bill shock.” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee,...
Ranking House of Representatives members are up in arms over the glut of pass-through charges on electricity bills that consumers have to pay. Such charges include the Senior Citizen Discount, Lifeline Rate discount for 4Ps beneficiaries, Feed-in Tariff Allowance, and Green Energy Auction Allowance...
Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV said on Tuesday, April 28 electricity subsidies and other mandated discounts should be funded through the national budget and not by consumers, particularly by low and middle-income households. Aquino, who has filed Senate Resolution No. 375, pointed ...
While fuel prices are expected to drop next week, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) consumers will face higher electricity rates this month. Effective April, Meralco will see a ₱0.5335-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in its power rates, from ₱13.8161/kWh to ₱14.3496/kWh. For households consuming...
While there is no specific provision calling for immediate economic relief for the middle class families is stated in the report, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the suspension of the excise tax, as well as the possibility of suspending the value added tax (VAT) may benefit all households. Gatchalian...
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – More than 44,000 Albay Electric Cooperative customers here are set to receive a one-time subsidy of P300, Mayor Hisham Ismail said on Friday, March 27. Ismail said the financial assistance for residential meter holders is part of the city government’s initiative to cushion...
Consumers should brace themselves for another increase in their electricity bills this month, as Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has announced a power rate hike for April. In a statement on Friday, April 11, Meralco reported a ₱0.7226 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in its...
ILOILO CITY – MORE Electric and Power Corp., the sole power distributor here, has reduced electricity rates for the second straight month. MORE Power linemen at work in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap) The company reduced electricity rates by P2.76 per kilowatt in the March billing cycle to P10.41...
