The country’s biggest power distributor made the clarification amid claims about “additional” charges on electricity bills circulating social media.
Pass-through costs, not utility revenue
“The electricity bills detail components and charges in a transparent manner,” Meralco vice president for corporate communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
“These charges include mandated cross subsidies including taxes, which are remitted to the government through the relevant agencies. In addition, these are implemented by all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives and are not unique to Meralco,” he added.
Subsidies and policy charges
Zaldarriaga said the items being questioned include subsidies such as senior citizen discounts and lifeline rates for low-income households, as well as policy-driven charges tied to renewable energy programs.
“I wish to clarify that these are not company-imposed fees but are mandated designed to support vulnerable sectors and accelerate the country’s transition to cleaner energy,” he said.
These include the feed-in tariff allowance and green energy auction allowance embedded in electricity bills.
Transparency and compliance
Meralco said all bill components are itemized, including refunds implemented in accordance with regulatory orders and timelines set by authorities.
The utility encouraged customers with questions to reach out through its official channels for clarification.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
