Water, power disconnections suspended during ECQ

Water and electricity disconnections due to non-payment of bills will be suspended in the National Capital Region when the metropolis is again placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) has directed the two concessionaire companies – Manila Water Company and Maynilad Water Services – to suspend all service disconnection to ensure water supply availability within their service areas for the duration of the ECQ.

The MWSS RO appealed to the local government units in Metro Manila, Cavite and Rizal to allow meter readers of the water concessionaires to continue their water meter reading and billing operations during the ECQ period.

“This will enable the Concessionaires to bill their customers based on actual water consumption, and help minimize billing complaints that may abound if the customers were to be billed based on average consumption,” MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said.

Meanwhile, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) likewise announced it is suspending ‘electricity service disconnections’ to customers with unpaid bills.

“Meralco is again suspending disconnection activities in the province of Laguna beginning August 1-15 and the National Capital Region (NCR) from August 6-20, 2021,” the power firm stated in its advisory.

However, Meralco’s other service areas such as those in Bulacan, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite and some parts of Quezon, that had been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions, will not be included in the disconnection-suspension policy.

Ferdinand O. Geluz, Meralco first vice president and chief commercial officer, said “We will again suspend all disconnection activities in NCR and Laguna to help ease the burden of our customers with the needed relief and additional time to settle their bills.”