By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In a bid to address speculations raised by citizens on social media questioning the various charges that they pay on their respective electricity bills, Meralco held a press briefing outlining the nuances of these fees that consumers shoulder.
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) spokesperson, VP and Head Corporate Communications, Joe Zaldarriaga said that these fees are geared towards extending a helping hand to the less fortunate.
“Ang dalawa dito, ang lifeline subsidy at ang senior citizen subsidy, ay tulong po sa mga sektor na nangangailangan ng suporta mula sa sambayanan.”
The lifeline subsidy rate subsidizes the power consumption of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and other certified-marginalized end users within 50kWh, as stipulated under Republic Act No. 9136 (Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001) and Republic Acts No. 10150 and 11552, which both extend and enhance the validity of the lifeline rate, thus amending section 73 of EPIRA.
The senior citizen subsidy rate, on the other hand, covers the 5% discount on electricity granted to elderly consumers consuming 100kWh and below, as stipulated in Republic Act No. 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizen Act).
By virtue of Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, the Feed-In Tariff Allowance (FiT-All) and Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) fees are in support of the promotion of sustainable energy and the funding of sustainable modes of power generation, respectively.
Also under R.A. 9136, a universal charge takes into account “taxes and royalties applied to indigenous or renewable sources of energy vis-a-vis imported energy fuels,” as well as an environmental charge that goes into watershed rehabilitation and management.
Meralco Utility Economics chief Lawrence Fernandez expounded by defining the legality of these additional fees, “Hindi po ito parang nag-appear na lang bigla. ‘Yung iba sa kanila, dekada na pong iniimplement ng distribution utilities.”
Zaldarriaga concluded the briefing by noting that 55% of the fees paid by consumers go towards generation and transmission charges, thus ensuring round-the-clock access to electricity that powers their households and businesses.
These details are released by Meralco to dispel misconceptions about the alleged ‘bill shock’ experienced by consumers in the recent billing cycle, where they questioned the significant jump in the fees that they have to settle with Manila’s lone power distribution firm. (with report from Carlo Luis Candelaria | PTV News)
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