00:00In addition to the electric bill, Meralko's customers will receive a refund in the next month.
00:08But at the same time, we are being harassed by the purchase of electricity reserves last year.
00:17Maki Pulido was the one who was affected.
00:23Because of the upcoming refunds, it is possible that there will be months this year when there will be at least a little relief in the electricity bill.
00:30In February, almost Php 1 billion will be refunded to private distributors who were paid by the experts of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
00:39That's Php 23 per kilowatt hour for Meralko's customers.
00:44We don't need those funds, so those funds need to be returned.
00:47By April, Meralko's Php 16 billion refund will be available.
00:52The refund can still be increased because the Energy Regulatory Commission will review Meralko's severance from 2022 to 2024.
01:00But if there is a refund, there is also an increase.
01:02The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines will also review the purchase of electricity reserves from February last year,
01:09which amounted to Php 12 per kilowatt hour within three to six months.
01:14There have been too many refunds in the past few years of the ERC's regulatory reset, or the account of how much will be refunded to customers.
01:23If the NGCP's regulatory reset is planned, for example, it will be known if it will be refunded or if a refund will be added.
01:30If the ERC decides to allow the NGCP to request for projects that have not yet been completed,
01:38it will be equivalent to a Php 12 per kilowatt hour increase.
01:42But there will be a Php 1 per kilowatt hour refund within a year
01:47if the ERC decides that it can only request for projects that have been completed.
01:52The resets will really need to be completed for Meralko and NGCP.
01:56For Rebecca, a working student, a refund of a few cents is a big deal, especially if it will be returned to the NGCP.
02:03While studying, Rebecca is worried because her family is in the province.
02:07I hope it will be refunded because it will be a big help for my food,
02:11for the tricycle to go to school, for the jeepney.
02:14I think it's just a barrier or a small rollback.
02:19But she also has another problem.
02:21Rebecca lives in a place where the electricity of her house will be cut off for Meralko's maintenance.
02:27The schedule of Meralko's maintenance is on Meralko's website and Facebook page.
02:32It's important for us to make sure that our facilities are in tip-top condition
02:38so that we can face the challenges of time.
02:43The summer months will come and then the rainy season will come.
02:48It's a hassle, but Rebecca says it's just a TTC that sidelines as a virtual assistant.
02:53Maybe I just need to go out to find an establishment that provides an outlet.
03:01It's really inconvenient for me.
03:03For GMA Integrated News, Mackie Pulido, for Tutok, 24 Hours.
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