The government is poised to fully implement beginning Jan. 1st its power subsidy program for marginalized households despite a huge shortfall in the registration of target beneficiaries.
The Lifeline Rate Program will be jointly implemented by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Total registered qualified marginalized end-users as of Dec. 15, 2023 reached only 191,399. The government estimated the number of beneficiaries based on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) list at around 4.2 million.
“Only 4Ps and non-4Ps electricity consumers who consume not more than 100 (kilowatt per hour (kWh) a month and have registered with their respective distribution utilities (DUs) shall be entitled to avail of the subsidy provided under the Lifeline Rate Program,” the three agencies said in a joint advisory.
“The national agencies, however, reminded all DUs to continue accepting and processing applications within the timeline prescribed under Rule 8, Section 2 of the Lifeline IRR,” the advisory stated.
Under Republic Act No. 11552, also known as an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate which amends the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), lifeline or subsidized rates are given to low-income customers using electricity below 100 kilowatt hours per month who are having difficulty paying their month bills.
The ERC said distribution utilities (DUs) are also directed to continue with their promotion initiatives to disseminate information and enlighten the public on the benefits of the Lifeline Rate Program.
The DOE, the DSWD and the ERC deferred the full implementation of the program in July to allow for more aggressive registration efforts after observing significantly low turnout among both 4Ps and non-4Ps applicants for the subsidy.
Subsequently, the ERC, in collaboration with the DOE and the DSWD, together with the DUs, organized and conducted nationwide information and education campaigns, alongside on-site registration caravans, making the services more accessible to the people.
The rate reduction under the program varies depending on the prevailing rates of the DUs.
Lifeline end-users in the Manila Electric Co. franchise area with zero to 20 kilowatt-hours of monthly consumption will be granted a 100 percent discount on the generation charges, including system loss, transmission, and distribution components of their bill, except for the fixed metering charge of P5, which means they will only be paying more or less P20 in their electric bills.
“If they do not avail of the program through Meralco, they will have to shell out more or less P250, an amount which could otherwise be spent for their other needs such as food,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said earlier.