By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – A senator on Tuesday called for the full refund of alleged overcollections from power firm Meralco, saying the PHP14.17-billion refund ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is insufficient and long overdue.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said consumers should recover the estimated PHP100 billion in excess charges, stressing that the latest refund order covers only a fraction of the amount.
“Hangga’t hindi nila nababalik ang buong PHP100 billion in overcollections, bitin pa iyan lahat… kahit yang PHP14.17 billion refund… ay barya lang sa totoong dapat matanggap ng mga konsyumer (Unless the full PHP100 billion in overcollections is returned, all of this remains insufficient… even the PHP14.17 billion refund is just small change compared to what consumers should actually receive),” she said.
The ERC earlier directed Meralco to refund around PHP14 billion to consumers starting May, with a deduction of PHP0.2511 per kilowatt-hour reflected in monthly bills as “AWAT (Refund)/Collect.”
The refund, arising from a regulatory “true-up” on distribution rates from July 2022 to December 2024, will be given over 12 months instead of the original 36 months to provide faster relief to households.
Hontiveros noted that the PHP14.17 billion refund is not a new scheme but part of the remaining balance from an earlier PHP19.96-billion refund ordered in 2025, indicating that funds due to consumers have yet to be fully returned.
She pointed out that the gap between the ordered refund and the estimated PHP100 billion in alleged overcollections highlights concerns raised by advocates, including the use of a high weighted average cost of capital, possible overstatement of the regulatory asset base, and alleged double counting of inflation since 2012.
She urged the ERC to conduct a full, independent, and comprehensive review of electricity pricing and collection practices, and to ensure that all excessive charges are refunded.
“Bawat araw na hindi naibabalik… nag-aadjust tayo sa mga gastusin sa bahay… Konsyumer na lang lagi ang naghihintay at nag-aadjust (Every day that excess charges are not returned, households are forced to adjust their expenses… it is always the consumers who wait and adjust),” she said.
Hontiveros added that while refunds are implemented in installments, increases in electricity charges are often imposed immediately, stressing the need to correct billing practices before imposing additional charges. (PNA)
