An infrastructure-oriented thinktank urged Meralco and other distribution utilities around the country to immediately issue new electric bills based on the recent advisory of the Energy Regulatory Commission ordering staggered payments.
“The ERC advisory should put to rest all concerns on bill shock and overcharging, as this affords consumers an adequate period of time to settle electricity actually consumed by households during the quarantine. This should also allow distribution utilities sufficient time to confirm actual usage against estimates of power consumption.”
This was the statement of Terry Ridon Infrawatch PH convenor and former House energy committee member.
Advisory favors consumers
The ERC ordered a six-month staggered payment for households with a monthly consumption of 200 kilowatt-hour (kwh) or less while households which consumed above 200 kwh are allowed to pay in four month installments.
Ridon, a lawyer, said that the new billing would now reflect the most recent transaction status between the DU and the customer, and cancel all previous billing statements.
Kamagra is cheap levitra canada my site a trusted drug to help men battle from erection problems. The online resource offers objective and unbiased information regarding the sexual problem including causes, symptoms and cures. canadian viagra For some people they still have a viagra ordination dim view of cosmetic surgery, seeing it as frivolous, self-indulgent or vain. Also remember that the mouth, words, tadalafil professional and touch can be more effective than your penile functioning.“Without a new billing based on the staggered scheme, households will still have to guess at what exact amount should be paid at the due date. A newly issued billing statement resolves this with finality.”
Smart meters
Ridon also welcomed the suggestion of Meralco to install smart meters to avoid bill shocks in the future.
“Smart metering is indeed a technological solution to prevent the same unfortunate situation from happening again. What needs to be clarified however is how the new meters will paid: will it be borne as a separate line item per customer or will it be incorporated into the general capital expenditure plan of distribution utilities?”
Ridon said this is a matter that needs to be studied further to determine whether realtime meter readings is a real necessity as against the prospect of job loss for meter readers in our distribution units.
“The reality of installing smart meters will inevitably result in job redundancies in power companies. Is realtime meter reading more important than saving jobs? “But at this point when technology is dictating how we do business and improves daily lives, the reality is automation is inevitable”. This is one of the questions that all stakeholders need to answer.”