ERC orders P31 billion new charges for Meralco customers

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco customers face over P31 billion in additional charges starting in March, following the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)’s approval of claims by power producers.

ERC chairman and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan, however, insisted that the adjustment would have “minimal” or no impact at all on Meralco’s power rates.

In separate orders dated Jan. 26, the ERC authorized the collection of an additional P0.2816 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from Meralco customers for 12 to 36 months or until the total amount is fully recovered.

This covers claims of P29.12 billion by Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Group, P1.75 billion by Ayala-led ACEN Corp. and P380.62 million by Panay Energy Development Corp. of the Meralco Group.

Meralco customers will start shouldering the new charges in March, just as the summer months set in – a period when electricity rates usually climb due to high demand caused by hotter temperatures.

This comes on top of the P5.1 billion in charges already being billed to Meralco customers, following an earlier ERC order for the initial payment of San Miguel’s cost recovery.

“Meralco has been implementing a CIC (change in circumstances) rate averaging around P0.28 per kWh per month since September 2025, and this is to continue until February 2026,” Juan said. — Emmanuel Tupas