The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the suspension of power disconnections in areas declared under state of calamity due to the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in the country.
This is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to consider a moratorium on electricity bills in areas affected by the tropical cyclone.
In its directive, the ERC instructed all power distribution utilities to suspend disconnections for residential and non-residential consumers with monthly consumption not exceeding 200 kWh who are unable to pay their electric bills from October to December of this year.
The directive also calls for the implementation of flexible payment options to ease the burden on affected consumers as they recover from the disaster.
According to the ERC, staggered payments will be allowed over a six-month period. Power distributors may also offer alternative payment terms for consumers who use more than 200 kWh per month.
In this regard, all generators, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), the National Power Corporation, the National Transmission Corporation, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Independent Power Producers, Independent Power Producers Administrators, and the Market Operator have also been instructed to implement a payment scheme for the affected distribution utilities.
