MANILA – More than eight million customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) are set to receive refunds after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the utility firm to return P9.5 billion in overrecoveries, Malacañang said on Monday.

During a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the refund forms part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to help ease the financial burden on Filipino households.

“Tinatayang aabot sa higit eight million customers ng kumpanya ang inaasahan na makikinabang sa nasabing refund,” Castro said.

She said the ERC, through a decision issued on July 31, directed Meralco to implement a refund equivalent to P0.3448 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) over a six-month period.

According to Castro, residential consumers are expected to receive a refund rate of P0.5861 per kWh.

“Makakaasa ang mga residential customers ng Meralco na makakatanggap sila ng refund rate na PhP0.5861 per kWh,” she added.

She said a household consuming 200 kWh per month could receive a refund of more than P100.

Castro also said ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Francis Saturnino Juan confirmed that the refund will take effect beginning with the next billing cycle and must be clearly reflected in customers’ electricity bills.

“Malinaw ang hangarin ng Pangulo: Ibalik sa taumbayan ang kanilang pinagpaguran. Kada piso na matitipid ay malaking tulong sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Castro said.