MikeLigalig.com

The Panay Electric Company (PECO) has assured refunds of meter deposits, including interest estimated to be more than P30 million, to almost 18,000 power consumers in this city starting early next year.

This was announced by PECO spokesman Randy Pastolero, after seeing this week city mayor Jerry P. Treñas here to assure of the refund as ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Pastolero said that PECO is currently updating the list of bonafide power meter depositors and may adopt the policy of Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) in giving priority payment to its consumers posting less than 100 kilowatthour power consumption.

In Iloilo City, power consumers posting less than 100 KWH consumption may run up to more than 17,000 concessionaires and the refund of meter deposits will hopefully start by January 15, 2009.

Earlier, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) reiterated its 2007 order to all power distribution utilities in the country to submit collection of meter deposits by consumers in their respective areas.

The order came on the heels of Resolution No. 2008-1259 of the Iloilo City Sangguniang Panlungsod, seeking ERC’s opinion and intervention on the refund of meter deposits collected by PECO in the city. - PNA