Photo credit: Meralco

Consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) welcomes the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) decision to approve Meralco’s P20-billion refund—a move that will bring much-needed relief to millions of households.

According to LKI Trustee Jorge Bandola, the refund will be distributed over the next three years, giving residential customers a P0.20 per kilowatt-hour reduction in their electricity bills. “This is a timely and positive development, especially for consumers already struggling with rising costs of goods,” he said.

However, while LKI applauds this step, they’re also pushing the ERC to act faster on the long-overdue rate reset for Meralco and other power distributors. The delays in these regulatory reviews, they argue, have kept consumers from fully benefiting from fair electricity rates and quality service.

“In the interest of consumer welfare, we urge the ERC to review the electricity rates of other power distributors as well, so all consumers—not just Meralco’s—can enjoy transparent and reasonable rates,” Bandola added.

LKI promises to keep a close watch on the rate reset proceedings and expects the ERC to prioritize timeliness, fairness, and transparency in its decisions. For now, though, Meralco customers can look forward to some relief on their electricity bills.