Manila: The Manila Electric Company (Meralco): On Monday clarified its bill charges, noting that all items were approved before implementation. Meralco issued the statement to address confusion and counterclaims circulating on social media about electricity bill charges.
According to Philippines News Agency, Meralco stated that electricity bills clearly show a breakdown of charges, allowing customers to see exactly where their monthly payments go. Meralco, like other electricity distributors across the country, operates under strict regulatory oversight ensuring all charges are lawful, transparent, and properly vetted. Every line item in the electricity bill has been approved before they are reflected and implemented, said Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications.
The charges include public policy charges such as the senior citizen subsidy, lifeline rate subsidy, and universal charge, which support programs for vulnerable sectors of society and other government projects. Additionally, the Feed-in Tariff Allowance and Green Energy Auction Allowance are paid by all electricity end-users to accelerate the country's transition to clean energy. Meralco emphasized that all these charges are covered by existing laws and regulations.
Zaldarriaga reiterated that these mandated charges are remitted to the government through relevant agencies and are not new or exclusive to Meralco, as they are implemented by all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the country. Meralco and other distributors do not earn from pass-through charges like generation and transmission costs and taxes, acting solely as collection agents for these costs.
Meralco also addressed its distribution charge, stating that it has not changed since its reduction in 2022. The company emphasized its commitment to empower consumers with the right information, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability. Zaldarriaga assured customers that they can reach out to Meralco at any time through various customer touch points.
