Senator Win Gatchalian said,  over the past few weeks, his office has been receiving numerous complaints from many consumers on their high electricity rates from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) amid the prevailing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Many of us are left wondering how Meralco has come up with such high charges especially during this time of the pandemic when many of us are facing mounting expenses and loss of livelihood,” said Gatchalian.

The problem lies with Meralco’s confusing electricity bill.

Meralco has failed to provide Filipinos a clearer and justified explanation on why bills have gone up so high.

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, my office has started initial inquiries on whether or not Meralco has taken advantage of the current pandemic situation to the detriment of the Filipino consumers, he said.

“Sisiguraduhin natin na tama at walang labis ang paniningil ng Meralco,” said Gatchalian.

“We will also dig deeper into the electricity bill shock issue during the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (JCEC) hearing this coming Friday on the effects of COVID-19 in the power sector,” he said.

Gatchalian urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to look into the complaints of the ‘kababayans’ and ensure that all distribution utilities and retail electricity suppliers are strictly complying with the commission’s directives.

“I would like to remind Meralco of its obligation to follow the ERC advisories dated April 15, 2020 and May 5, 2020, on the proper computation of electricity bills and correct payment dates of bills due within the ECQ period, which should start after the ECQ and should be in 4 monthly installments,” he said./Stacy Ang