Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

MANILA – Manila Electric Co (Meralco) said Monday it would issue another bill in June, based on actual meter reading, covering the months of March, April and May or during the lockdown.

Consumers won’t need to pay the electric bills from March 1 to May 31 they received, which was based on estimated average since physical reading was suspended during the lockdown, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga told Teleradyo.

Asked by Teleradyo’s Ted Failon if consumers should disregard the bills received from March, April and May, Zaldarriaga said “tama” (correct).

The new bill will be issued in June with the actual physical reading and will be paid on an installment basis starting June 15 based on the order of the Energy Regulatory Commission, he said.

"Yung bill para sa installment ipapadala po 'yan ng hiwalay sa bill ng current June consumption. Ang mga hindi nakabayad ng 3 buwan, installment na po 'yan starting June 15 hanggang November 15," Zaldarriaga said.

(The installment bill will be issued separately from the June consumption. Those who haven't paid in 3 months, the billing will be for installment from June 15 to November 15)

“Ang importante, ang main point dito, gagawin ang meter reading sa May at magkakaron ng 0 percent installment para kahit papano yung mga kababayan natin hindi mag-alala sa bill shock na natanggap nila,” he added.

(The important, main point here, is that meter reading will be done and we will have 0 percent installment so that the consumers won't have to worry about the bill shock with the bills that they receive)

Many Filipinos complained of “bill shock” when Meralco imposed an averaging scheme for electric bills, which was based on the last 3 months of usage since physical reading was suspended during the lockdown.

• Meralco lockdown bill based on 3-month average: spokesperson

The Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday issued new guidelines that ordered utility distributors to issue new electric bills based on actual meter reading.

• LINK: Power utilities told: Follow meter, billing rules during quarantine
• ERC to issue new memo deferring payment of electricity bills in areas under MECQ

Adjustments based on the actual meter reading will also be applied to consumers who have already paid their dues.