Following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) order to accelerate Meralco’s release of a ₱14-billion refund, many customers have been asking the same question: how much will they actually save?
Meralco Vice President and Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, interviewed on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on April 25, put a concrete number on it — residential customers will receive a refund of 43 centavos per kilowatt hour starting May, more than double the current rate of 20 centavos.
“Sa kasalukuyan nasa 20 centavos per kilowatt hour ‘yung natatanggap nilang refund, magiging 43 centavos na ito simula sa Mayo,” Zaldarriaga said.
The additional 23 centavos per kilowatt hour is on top of the refund residential customers are already receiving, and will appear as a separate, clearly labeled line item on May bills.
While the ERC-reported system-wide refund rate stands at ₱0.2511 per kilowatt hour, Zaldarriaga clarified that residential customers are getting a larger share of the rebate.
The refund stems from a true-up mechanism covering Meralco’s distribution rates between July 2022 and December 2024, a period during which the company’s actual earnings exceeded levels permitted under the regulatory framework.
“This will be reflected as a separate line item sa susunod na buwan sa Mayo, which is around a little over a week away,” Zaldarriaga said, adding that customers can verify the deduction directly on their bills.
The accelerated refund, he noted, comes at a critical time — summer months typically drive consumption and costs higher, and the additional rebate is designed to help soften that seasonal impact on household budgets.
