A “no disconnection” policy is being sought for Meralco customers contesting allegedly erroneous electricity bills, amid mounting complaints over inaccurate meter readings and unusually high charges.
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said consumers should not be required to settle disputed amounts merely to prevent their electricity service from being cut off.
“Consumers who were erroneously charged should not be forced to pay disputed charges just to keep their lights on. Hindi nila kasalanan na mali ang meter reading. Hindi konsyumers ang dapat mag-adjust,” Hontiveros said.
The proposal came following reports from customers who claimed they received inflated electricity bills due to incorrect meter readings.
In one case, a household was charged for electricity consumption despite having switched off its circuit breakers while the family was away on vacation. Meralco later acknowledged that the bill resulted from an error committed by a meter reader.
The Energy Regulatory Commission, however, advised customers questioning their bills to pay the disputed amounts under protest to avoid disconnection while their complaints are being investigated.
Hontiveros questioned the policy, saying it placed an unfair burden on consumers already struggling to manage household expenses.
“Bakit parang inuuna pa ang interes ng Meralco? Hindi naman siguro sila malulugi sa mga unpaid contested bills. Pero ang mga kababayan natin na di handa sa biglang lobo ng babayaran ay lalong mahihirapang magbudget,” she said.
“Kung lehitimo ang dispute sa bill, hindi makatarungan na pilitin silang magbayad muna. Pwede pa sana nilang magamit ang pera sa iba pang pangangailangan sa buwan na iyan,” she added.
The Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers guarantees customers the right to accurate metering and provides mechanisms for challenging erroneous bills.
However, the existing rules do not explicitly prohibit power distributors from collecting disputed charges or disconnecting electricity service while a complaint remains unresolved.
Hontiveros urged the ERC to establish a faster, fairer, and more effective process for resolving billing disputes while ensuring that affected customers are protected from disconnection.
“ERC should do something about this. Mandato nila na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga consumers,” she said.
Hontiveros is set to file a Senate resolution directing the Senate Committee on Energy to investigate reported cases of erroneous meter readings and disputed electricity bills.
The proposed inquiry will examine the extent of the problem, assess existing consumer protection mechanisms, and identify possible reforms against inaccurate and unjust electricity billing practices.