Power retailer Manila Electric Co. said over the weekend customers received a one-month disconnection reprieve as it extended the no-disconnection policy for non-payment of bills from Dec. 31, 2020 to Jan. 31, 2021.
Meralco president Ray Espinosa said in a letter to House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco it agreed to his request for the extension after “careful evaluation and in consideration.”
Espinosa said the extended grace period would benefit more than 3 million Meralco customers with consumption of 200 kilowatts per hour and below during the billing month of December.
The number represents around 47 percent of Meralco’s total customer base, according to Espinosa.
Velasco said Meralco’s move was very welcome in keeping with the spirit of bayanihan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The extended grace period being given to our fellow Filipinos during the holiday season will provide much needed reprieve to those reeling from the devastating effects of the pandemic and natural calamities,” Velasco said.