Meralco rebuts P4P claims

Good Day,

At a time when the country is facing a fight against global pandemic and under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), we believe that fair reporting based on factual data is crucial to prevent misinformation that only further stirs the minds and creates anxiety among the populace.

In this regard, we want to air our side on the story that appeared in your publication on 11 May 2020 entitled “ Amid high rates, interruptions, group asks: Is Meralco taking advantage of ECQ?”. We find the news piece as one-sided with unconfirmed data presented by Power 4 People Coalition (P4P) on the alleged high electricity rates and interruptions unsubstantiated.

It is unfortunate that instead of presenting an accurate explanation of the May power rates, inquirer.net chose to highlight P4P’s questionable ‘pro-poor agenda’. If the reporter conducted a ‘fast check’ of his data or approach me, the story could have been more balanced and factual.

There is no truth to P4Ps allegation of high power rates during this period. In fact, consumers’ electricity for May bills were carefully and fairly calculated based on the result of the ‘actual kWh consumption’ from the current meter reading, with adjustments already reflected, coming from the estimated consumption done during the ECQ period.

Meralco followed Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR in estimating consumers’ electricity rates based on the 3 months’ average daily consumption for some of March and all April bills.

The past 3 months of December 2019, and January/February 2020 were considered “low consumption” months due to significantly cooler weather compared to the summer months of March, April and May.

Also electricity bills for May were affected by the following factors:

• Higher consumption during ECQ since most are at home, and appliances (aircon and fans] are switched on for up to 12-24 hours compared to 6 to 8 hours per day before ECQ.
• Temperatures are at record high (max so far for 2020 is at 37.3⁰C with Heat Index of 42⁰C)
• Actual Consumption minus Estimated Consumption (due to ECQ) was added in the May bill.

Meralco also helped to ease our customers’ burden, offering them an option to pay in four monthly installments, starting not earlier than May 30.

The recent brownouts are largely attributed to the spike in residential power consumption due to ECQ and the rising temperatures, but Meralco worked round the clock to address the situation. Our crews and linemen worked hard this entire ECQ, ensuring that we keep the lights on for our customers.

PDI prides itself on its branding of “balanced news and we hope that in future reports, our side is requested so that the ‘two sides of the coin’ are fairly presented.

Thank you,

Joe Zaldarriaga
Public Information Head
Meralco