Sen. Risa Hontiveros has sought a Senate inquiry into Energy Regulatory Commission policies that may require consumers to pay disputed electricity bills to avoid disconnection, even when the charges stem from erroneous meter readings.
In Proposed Senate Resolution No. 509, Hontiveros called for a review of whether Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, and the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers adequately protect households contesting irregular charges.
“ERC has a mandate to protect electric consumers, but some of its current policies may be placing the burden on the very people it is supposed to protect. Kailangang tingnan ang mga polisiyang ito at i-update kung kailangan,” she said.
The resolution cited complaints from customers who received unusually high bills because of incorrect meter readings.
The ERC has advised consumers to pay disputed bills under protest to avoid possible disconnection. Meralco, however, has said customers with pending billing complaints are not required to pay the contested amount while their cases are under review.
Hontiveros said the conflicting guidance places the burden of correcting billing errors on consumers.
“Bakit nasa konsyumer ang responsibilidad na iwasto ang maling paniningil sa atin? Kailangan muna nating bayaran ang maling bill para hindi tayo maputulan, at kailangan tayo pa ang magpresenta ng mga patunay at dokumento,” she said.
“Kung hindi madedetect ng konsyumer na may mali sa ating reading, walang makakaalam na may problema.”
The resolution noted that while the Magna Carta gives consumers the right to dispute a bill, it does not clearly protect households from disconnection or financial hardship while a complaint is being resolved.
Hontiveros said the rules should be amended to ensure consumers are not forced to pay erroneous charges merely to keep their electricity service connected.
“Dapat klaro na kapag may maling singil, hindi mapwersa ang mga kababayan natin na magbayad para makaiwas sa abala,” she said.
She added that the issue has become more urgent amid successive increases in electricity rates, including a ₱0.3428-per-kilowatt-hour increase in generation charges this month.
“Kung may mga patakaran na naglalagay sa kanila sa alanganin, panahon na para repasuhin at baguhin ang mga ito para matiyak na ito ay makatarungan at tunay na pro-consumer,” Hontiveros said.