ERC: No Power Disconnection Until December
We do understand that the situation is really difficult right now,” Energy Regulatory Commission chairman and chief executive officer Francis Saturnino Juan said.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is extending the no-electricity disconnection policy until December for households consuming 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or less.
ERC chairman and chief executive officer Francis Saturnino Juan said the agency is set to issue an advisory within the month covering unpaid electricity bills for November and December.
“We have already discussed among the commission that we will extend, but the scope will be limited,” he said on Monday, Oct. 5, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum.
Juan said the ERC decided to limit the policy’s coverage following requests from power utilities, which noted that some commercial and industrial customers have been unable to pay their bills on time.
Extending the policy to residential customers, however, would ensure that vulnerable households continue to benefit amid persistently high electricity prices.
“We do understand that the situation is really difficult right now,” the ERC chief said.
The move marks the second extension of the policy, which was initially imposed for the May-to-July billing periods to ease the financial burden on Filipinos amid the Middle East crisis. The policy was subsequently extended through October.
The existing policy covers all electricity customers nationwide, including both residential and non-residential users.
Under the policy, households with monthly consumption of no more than 200 kWh may also defer payment of their electricity bills for the covered period.
Deferred payments may be settled over three months, with the installments reflected in subsequent billing statements.
Juan said the ERC would assess whether to extend the no disconnection policy beyond this year.
