ERC promulgates Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers no more meter deposits

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has finally approved the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers. The promulgation of the Magna Carta has long been awaited by consumers who will now granted new rights. Existing consumer rights were also simplifed.

Among these new rights of consumers are the exemption from payment of meter deposits and the refund of bill deposits as long as the said consumer pays his bill on or before its due date. These rights are, however, subject to certain Guidelines that the Commission will promulgate. At present, customers need to terminate their electric service first before they are able to recover their bill and meter deposits from their distribution utilities.

The Magna Carta also provides clear-cut policies on connection and disconnection of electric service, the sources of most complaints filed with the Commission.

Any customer who meets the requirements of the distribution utility (DU) shall have the right to electric service from the said DU. This is also available even if the previous occupant of the premises is in arrears with the DU as long as there is no collusion between the previous and present tenants.

The Magna Carta emphasizes that no disconnection shall be effected without prior notice. Despite due notice, the DU must still desist from disconnecting under any of the following circumstances:

(a) Beyond 3 PM from Mondays to Fridays
(b) Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays
(c) A permanent resident is sick and dependent on a life support service
(d) Funeral wake of a permanent resident
(e) Non-receipt of statement of account or notice of disconnection
(f) Single statement for several monthly bills
(g) Customer is not around (only for illegal use of electricity)

Customers are also protected from the inconvenience of disconnection even if their meters are allegedly defective or tampered. Meters found in either condition must immediately be replaced an accurate one. The DU cannot disconnect the said customer until the ERC testing shows that the meter is indeed tampered.

To further improve its service to its customers, a DU is now mandated to set up bulletin boards in its offices to post major announcements and documents affecting its consumers. Scheduled power interruptions must also be announced through print, mass or interactive media. If this is not available, bulletin boards must be set up in conspicuous places, preferably on roadsides or in front of the Provincial/Municipal/City Hall.

The Magna Carta also spells out the obligations of the residential electricity consumers. These include payment of its monthly bill within nine (9) days from receipt of said bill and allowing DUs access to its premises for purposes of inspection and maintenance of meter facilities, among others. Bill deposits will, likewise, reimposed if the customers after receiving their refund, default in the payment of their regular monthly bills.

ERC assures that the Magna Carta fairly treats both the consumers and the DUs despite its pro-consumer orientation. ERC Chairman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. clarified that “The Commission is conscious of its duty to balance the interests of distribution utilities with that of the consumers. This was given paramount consideration when the different provisions of the Magna Carta was drafted,” ERC chairman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr.

June 10, 2004