By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Residential consumers of Meralco are entitled for a refund in their electric bills after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the company to refund a total of P21.77 billion over the next months to its consumers.
In the July 7 Laging Handa briefing, ERC Chairperson Agnes Devanadera said they are currently on their fourth run on refunding since they started last January 27, 2021 with a total of P13.8 billion.
ERC required Meralco on February 23, 2022 for another refund totalling to P4.8 billion. The third order was relayed to Meralco on March 8 for a P7.7 billion refund.
Devanadera said the first three refund orders are still effective.
Meanwhile, the official explained that there are energy price hikes due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, as well as the foreign policies that are affecting the prices of electricity.
“Yung pagtaas ng kuryente, wala sa kontrol ng national government ng ating bansa, kasi may mga factors na nakakaapekto dito katulad ng giyera ng Ukraine at ibang foreign policies ng ibang bansa,” she said. – ag
