House measure eyes P9 billion refund to Meralco consumers within one year

Philstar.com

June 17, 2026 | 1:00pm

MANILA, Philippines — A resolution has been filed in Congress urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to expedite the refund of approximately P9 billion in overcollections proposed by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

House Resolution 1126 also mandates the ERC to complete the refund within one year, and conduct a thorough audit to ensure full accountability and consumer protection.

Rep. Brian Poe (FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List) filed the resolution following his earlier earlier public statement welcoming Meralco's petition to return the funds to consumers while calling on regulators to ensure that the refund is not stretched over the utility's proposed 36-month period.

"I filed this resolution because consumers deserve both immediate relief and full accountability. We welcome the proposed P9-billion refund, but we believe consumers should not have to wait three years to recover money that rightfully belongs to them. The ERC should complete the refund within one year and ensure that all computations are accurate, fair, and transparent," Poe said.

According to Meralco's petition filed before the ERC, the proposed refund amounts to approximately P9 billion, consisting of P4.69 billion covering the January to June 2025 period and P4.32 billion covering the July to December 2025 period. Meralco has proposed implementing the refund over 36 months, which would translate to an estimated refund rate of around P0.09 per kilowatt-hour.

Poe welcomed the filing of the refund petition as an acknowledgment that consumers are entitled to the return of funds that should not have remained with the utility. The lawmaker noted that Filipino households continue to face higher electricity costs due to recurring grid alerts, power supply constraints, and volatility in electricity prices, making the prompt return of overcollected funds especially important.

"At a time when households are facing higher electricity costs due to recent grid alerts and power supply constraints, accelerating the refund would provide more meaningful and immediate relief to millions of consumers,” he said.

Poe also pointed out that the ERC has previously exercised its authority to accelerate consumer refunds when circumstances warranted immediate relief. In April 2026, the Commission shortened the completion period for Meralco's remaining refund obligations from several years to one year in order to help mitigate the impact of rising electricity rates on consumers.

"The ERC has already demonstrated its willingness to expedite consumer refunds in the past to cushion the impact of rising power rates. We believe the same approach should be applied here," he said.

At the same time, Poe emphasized the need for transparency and accountability throughout the refund process.

"We support a thorough audit and verification process to ensure that consumers receive every centavo they are entitled to and that all refund computations are accurate and fair," Poe said.

Under the resolution, the ERC is urged not only to shorten the refund period to one year but also to conduct a comprehensive audit and verification of all refund computations, supporting financial records, and distribution charge calculations. 

The measure likewise calls on the Commission to provide periodic public disclosures regarding the status of the refund and the methodology used in determining the amounts returned to consumers. (Contributed story)