Meralco customers to receive around ₱2.64 billion in provisional refunds
The ERC set an approximately six-month repayment period, with an average refund of ₱0.1020 per kilowatt-hour.
Customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) are due around ₱2.64 billion under a provisional refund ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Approved on October 9, the directive concerns the utility’s distribution charges for January to June 2026.
The ERC said its checks compared collections derived from Meralco’s actual revenue and electricity sales with the distribution rate it was authorised to charge. For the period reviewed, the Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT) stood at ₱1.5537 per kilowatt-hour, against an approved rate of ₱1.3522 per kilowatt-hour.
That represented excess collections of about ₱0.20 per kilowatt-hour, or ₱5.36 billion, according to the regulator. Taking account of earlier decisions on refunds and true-ups reduced the net refund to ₱2.64 billion.
Instead of Meralco’s proposed 12-month schedule at ₱0.0487 per kilowatt-hour, the ERC set an approximately six-month period averaging ₱0.1020 per kilowatt-hour. Customers will see a separate entry on their bills labelled “AWAT (Refund)/Collect”, the regulator said.
The amount remains provisional, pending verification and review during the ERC’s final evaluation. A hearing is scheduled for October 16 to 23, and further adjustments may be made. The ERC said it would oversee implementation and require monthly reports from Meralco until repayment is complete.
