Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi
MANILA – Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has welcomed the actions taken by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to address the customers’ complaints on electricity bills and the convenience fee for online payment.
Cusi said he received a letter from Meralco president and chief executive officer Ray Espinosa dated July 14, noting the company is issuing 4.1 million personalized letters to customers to explain their May 2020 bills based on the actual meter reading.
The delivery of letters will be completed Friday.
“We welcome Meralco's assurance that they have been acting upon the various issues being raised by consumers. In this time of the pandemic, our people are plagued with concerns about their health and safety, as well as their job and financial security,” he said.
The energy chief said Meralco has shouldered the PHP47-convenience fee per transaction for digital payment.
It will refund the convenience fee for around 268,000 transactions done between March 15 and May 16 amounting to PHP12.6 million.
The Department of Energy has been updated that Meralco will shoulder the convenience fee until the end of the general community quarantine.
Meanwhile, Meralco earlier said it was extending the grace period for its disconnection policy until end-September of this year.
Meralco rate this month is also lower by PHP0.0286 per kilowatt-hour at PHP8.6966 per kWh from PHP8.7252 per kWh in June. (PNA)
