ERC urges power firms to ease electricity billings, payments 

INQUIRER.net/file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) called on power distributors to stagger the collection of electricity bill payments this quarter to help households affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

ERC officer in charge and chief executive officer Jesse Hermogenes Andres said this would be among measures President Marcos ordered to provide temporary relief to power consumers.

‘Recovery efforts’

“To aid in recovery efforts, the President directed the ERC to study the immediate implementation of a moratorium on electricity line disconnection and payment collection for the period of October to December 2024 in areas under the state of calamity due to STS Kristine and staggered payments of electricity for the said months, as necessary,” a statement from the Palace read.

The ERC said bills issued this quarter may be settled in installments, especially for those “severely” hit by the typhoon.

He also urged the distributors to observe a moratorium on the disconnection of electricity service in areas under a state of calamity.

The ERC also directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, privately owned distributors, and electric cooperatives in areas affected by Kristine to assess the damage and fast-track the restoration of electricity in typhoon-hit areas.

Many areas in the country, particularly in northern Luzon, suffered from a trail of destruction due to the storm.

On Wednesday, Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-rey) developed into a super typhoon and was again expected to affect the northern part of the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Leon was last seen 360 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, moving west-northwestward at 10 km per hour.

It had maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 230 km/h.

Leon is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon.