Meralco to file a petition for P19-B refund to customers

MANILA, Philippines - Meralco is preparing to file a petition to refund P19 billion to its customers, covering overcharges from July 2022 to December 2024.

This action comes after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered that excess charges be returned since its Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT) had not been changed in the time allowed. Meralco has already published the refund details in newspapers and plans to submit the appeal to the ERC shortly, according to Larry Fernandez, Head of Utility Economics at Meralco.

Meralco intends to apply the rebate directly to customers' bills over three years if it is granted. Residential consumers will profit more, receiving P0.19 per kWh, but all customers will typically receive a return of P0.11 per kWh. As a result of Meralco returning the overcharged amount, consumers could anticipate somewhat cheaper electricity rates over the coming years.

ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta confirmed that the commission has yet to receive the official petition but assured that it would be reviewed promptly. The ERC has 75 days to issue a provisional decision, though Dimalanta noted that they might finalize it sooner.

The final refund amount could still be adjusted based on the commission’s thorough assessment, but Meralco customers can look forward to potential savings once the process is approved.