Meralco to Refund ₱9.5 B to Philippine Consumers After ERC Order

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to return roughly ₱9.5 billion to more than eight million electricity customers in the Philippines. The over‑recovery, identified for the 2025 billing periods, will be credited to customers’ bills over six months, averaging a refund of about ₱0.34 per kilowatt‑hour across all classes and about ₱0.59 per kilowatt‑hour for residential users. Meralco said the refund will appear as a separate line item on monthly statements.

The ERC’s “true‑up” mechanism compares the utility’s actual weighted average tariff with the approved distribution rates, requiring reimbursement when excess revenue is collected. The decision follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to eliminate system‑loss charges and related taxes from consumer bills. Meralco had filed two refund applications covering January–June and July–December 2025, which the regulator approved. The refund proceeds as the ERC reviews Meralco’s pending rate‑reset application, expected later this month.