Discounted electric bill program for selected clients kicks off

File photo shows a Meralco lineman inspecting electric meters in San Andres, Manila. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines – The full implementation of the Lifeline Rate Program, which grants discounted electricity rates to qualified power consumers.kicked off Monday, January 1, 2024

“The DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], Department of Energy, and the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] shall proceed with the full implementation of the new Lifeline Rate Program on 01 January 2024 as planned,” a tripartite advisory from the mentioned government agencies read.

The program had repeatedly been deferred, in July and September last year, due to low registration turnouts.

As of September 2023, the DOE said that the DSWD had received over 41,000 applications for the program but the figure was still behind their target of 4.2 million registrants.

In December 2023, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian likewise called on marginalized Filipinos to register for the program. 

READ: Lower power bills seen to greet 4Ps consumers in ’24 

 In the advisory, however, the key agencies pointed out that they were ready to fully implement the program in 2024 as they have seen an increase in the number of registrants following a nationwide registration campaign.

The agencies added that they have directed distribution utilities (DUs) to continuously accept applications for the program.

DUs were likewise told to continue their “aggressive promotion efforts to disseminate information on the Lifeline Rate Program.”

Who are qualified?

According to the DOE and the ERC, the following may avail of the Lifeline Rate Program:

• A household consumer who is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who consumes not more than 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of power in a month.
• Other applicants who are not 4Ps beneficiaries but belong to a household of at least five members and have a combined monthly income of P12,030 who consumes not more than 100 kWh of power in a month.

The DOE added that discounts or rate reductions are computed based on the prevailing rates of the DUs.

“To apply for the Lifeline Rate Program, any household consumer who is a beneficiary of the 4Ps must only submit to their DUs/ECs [electric cooperatives] a duly accomplished application form, the most recent electricity bill, and any valid government-issued identification card containing the signature and address of the consumer,” the DOE said.