By Joseph B.A. Marzan
MORE Power on Thursday explained concerns raised by consumers on their electricity bills.
Among the top complaints that surfaced on social media is their actual consumption and on how to pay their previous months’ bills amid the community lockdown.
In a radio interview, MORE spokesperson Mary Joy Fantilaga said most of their meter readers were only able to go out after the city shifted away from the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
The ECQ in Iloilo City ran from March 20 to May 15 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Our first bill was consolidated from February 29, when we started taking over power distribution in Iloilo City, until the time that their meters underwent reading. During the ECQ period, our readers weren’t able to read the meters because they couldn’t enter the barangays,” Fantilaga said.
Fantilaga added that the onset of the summer season also affected consumption.
“Another reason is also because of the summer season. We have to expect that consumption will rise because we are staying inside our houses, we are using electrical items,” she said.
Some of the meters were also replaced after finding out that old meters installed by the previous distribution utility were defective or indicated erratic readings.
Consumers may ask MORE Power to change their old meters free of charge, with priority on defective ones.
“There were consumers whose meters were changed because MORE Power saw that their meters were defective. This would be okay for some because that would mean that they were charged lower than what they consumed but at the expense of the distribution utility and other consumers. Because the meters have been changed, the readings are now more accurate,” Fantilaga said.
Fantilaga also clarified that consumers can pay their first bill in four equal installments without surcharges.
Customers who received their second bill starting April 18 onwards can also pay in two equal monthly installments without surcharges.
The Energy Regulatory Commission on May 22 advised that power bills due on March 16 to May 15 can be paid on a “staggered” basis within six months.
“The first MORE Power bill with the due date on June 14, 2020 can be paid in four equal monthly installments without surcharge. The ERC advisory indicated due dates from March 16 to May 15, but MORE Power provided additional 30 days,” Fantilaga said.
She also explained how the staggered bill payments will be applied.
“For example, their bill was from May 17 to June 14, the due date is on June 30. The amount due, for example, is P4,000. So they can pay P2,000 on June 30, and the remaining P2,000 will be added to the next due date on their third bill,” she said.
Fantilaga further clarified that MORE Power is not forcing customers to pay their bills outright.
“We in MORE Power are not forcing our customers to pay their bills all at once because we understand that everyone is affected by the community quarantines due to COVID-19. We’re just advising them that pay as soon as possible, and we don’t have any problems with a partial payment,” she said.
