ERC orders P9.5-B refund for Meralco customers
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to refund PHP 9.5 billion to its customers over six months, equivalent to PHP 0.3448 per kilowatt-hour. This refund corrects an over-collection by Meralco due to delays in the rate-setting process from January to December 2025.
Why it matters
This decision provides financial relief to electricity consumers in the Philippines, demonstrates regulatory oversight in utility pricing, and highlights the importance of timely rate adjustments to prevent overcharging.
Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may soon get some relief from high electricity prices as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the implementation of a PHP 9.5-billion refund.
In a 28-page decision promulgated July 31, the ERC directed Meralco to refund the equivalent rate of P HP 0.3448 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) within six months as a separate line item in consumers’ electricity bills.
“Implementation starts next billing cycle upon their receipt of the decision,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Francis Saturnino C. Juan said in a Viber message.
Distribution utilities such as Meralco are required to undergo a rate reset process which is usually a “forward-looking” exercise that requires the submission of forecasted expenditures and proposed projects for the ERC to review and adjust rates.
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