ERC orders DUs to submit data on bill deposit

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered distribution utilities (DUs) to submit data on bill deposit of electricity consumers to address issues and concerns.

The DUs were given 15 days from receipt of notice to comply with the ERC’s directive.

They were required to submit  the total amount of bill deposits collected from the effectivity of Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers (MREC) up to March 31, the total amount of interest earned and credited to the registered customers for the same period, the total amount of bill deposits and interest refunded to the consumers from the effectivity of MREC, and total balance of bill deposits inclusive of interest earned, less amounts refunded to registered customers from the effectivity of MREC up to March 31.

“With the upcoming inquiry by the House of Representatives, there is a need to update the data on bill deposits utilization to address the issues and concerns on this matter.” ERC chairperson and CEO Agnes Devanadera said.

The ERC had previously announced it would require power distributors to submit reports detailing the amount of bill deposit collected from consumers as well as interests earned as it puts more teeth in the bill deposit rules.

It revised the existing bill deposit rules and issued the draft “Rules to Govern the Monitoring and Reporting Process of Bill Deposits.”

The draft rules include a provision on the preparation and submission of periodic report, under oath, on or before Dec. 31 of every year, regarding the details of the total amount of bill deposit collected including interest earned and the amount credited or refunded to its consumers.

Bill deposits collected from residential and non-residential consumers are intended to guarantee the payment of electricity bills for new and/or additional service and from disconnected consumers who were previously not subject to bill deposits.

The bill deposit shall be equivalent to the estimated billing for one month based on the load schedule of the consumer to guarantee payment of his bills.

The power regulator issued notices for the conduct of focus group discussions on the draft rules, directing electric cooperatives  to submit their comments and/or inputs.