Updates on ECQ and GCQ Bills

Transactions at our Business Centers

1. Are your Business Centers open?

Our Business Centers have re-opened since May 7 to accept inquiries, concerns, service applications and payments..

Offices	Monday to Friday	Saturday	Sunday & Holiday
All Meralco Business Centers except listed below	7:00 am to 4:00 pm	7:00 am to 12:00 noon	Closed
Metropoint Business Center	10:00 am to 4:00 pm	10:00 am to 2:00 pm	Closed
Bacoor Customer Center in Bacoor Government Center	8:00 am to 5:00 pm	Closed	Closed

For your own safety, we highly encourage you to stay safe at home and transact with us through our digital platforms:

Meralco Online
Meralco Mobile app: download on Google Play or App Store
Message us on Facebook or Twitter
Email us at biz@meralco.com.ph

If you have any concerns, you may also call our 24/7 business hotline 16210.

2. If I visit any Business Center, will there be anyone there who can assist me with my power concerns for my business?

Your Biz Partners will not be physically present in our Business Centers when we re-open but we can still accommodate your requests, concerns or applications for service:

We have Customer Care Representatives on-site who will be able to assist you. The details of your concern will be turned over to the Biz Partner Manager handling your account.
We also have a drop box by the entrance where you can leave your requests, concerns or service application documents. These submissions will be picked up by your Biz Partners every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The contact details of the Biz Partners assigned per Business Center are posted by the entrance. You may text, call or email them for any concerns.

3. Is it safe to visit your Business Centers? What safety precautions did you implement before resuming operations?

Meralco employees in Business Centers passed the rapid COVID-19 testing authorized by the Pasig City Health Office and The Medical City.
We are working on skeleton force to observe strict social distancing.
Business Center personnel will be in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Acrylic barriers were installed as added precaution when transacting.
Business Centers are undergoing assessment to improve indoor air quality.
A desktop station, the Virtual Customer Care, will also be available in case you would be comfortable to transact and interact with Work-From-Home employees via video call.

4. What safety guidelines can I expect when I visit Business Centers?

Everyone is required to wear a mask when entering our Business Centers. No mask, no entry.
Foot mats are provided at the entrance to sanitize your shoes.
We will check your temperature prior to entry. Individuals with temperature of 37.8 degrees and above will not be allowed to enter.
Those with cough and/or colds or manifest COVID-19-like symptoms will be not allowed to enter.
Social distancing will be strictly implemented. Stickers will guide you to ensure a distance of 6 feet / 2 meters away from the next person.
Alcohol dispensers are available at the entrances, payment and customer service counters for your use.

We ask for your cooperation and understanding as we implement these guidelines for everyone’s safety. If you did not meet the criteria to enter our premises, you may use our Drop Box found at the entrance to file any concern or inquiry or submit service application documents. We will attend to these as soon as possible. You may also get in touch with the Biz Partners assigned in our Business Centers, their contact numbers and email addresses are posted by the entrance.

Service Application

1. How can I apply for electric service/submit requirements?

In this time of crisis, we offer you easier, safer and more convenient ways to apply for electricity service for your business:

Via Meralco Online
Via email: biz@meralco.com.ph
Or you may submit it through drop boxes found in our Business Centers.

2. What are the requirements when applying for electric service?

Application form which can be filled out via Meralco Online
Authorized letter for customer's representative
Electrical Plan with Load Schedule, Single Line Diagram, and Location Sketch (signed and sealed by a Professional Electrical Engineer)
Valid Government ID of the customer and representative
Proof of ownership (Transfer Certificate of Title or Deed of Sale or Contract of Lease)
BIR Certificate of Registration

Additional requirements for Corporations

SEC Registration with Articles of Incorporation
Latest General Information Sheet (GIS)
Secretary's Certificate (authorized to sign the Meralco contract)

Additional requirements for Partnerships

Articles of Partnership

Additional Requirements for Individual/Sole Proprietorship:

Business Permit or Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Permit

3. Meralco is supposed to visit me to check my metering facility (field survey). What will happen now?

Meralco can conduct a field survey once safety assessment of the area has been cleared. Our field representatives and contractors are ensured to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintain physical distancing at all times.

4. I am supposed to go to Meralco to pay the deposit/cash advance for my service application. What do I do now?

We apologize for the inconvenience. We encourage you to stay home and stay safe. Please email us at biz@meralco.com.ph or call 16210. Your Biz Partner will get in touch with you and advise you on the next steps in the settlement of your deposit/cash advance.

5. I am supposed to go to Meralco to sign my contract for my service application. What do I do now?

We apologize for the inconvenience. We encourage you to stay home and stay safe. Please email us at biz@meralco.com.ph or call us at 16210

Meter Reading

Billing

1. How will I be billed for my consumption and demand during the Enhanced Community Quarantine?

If you received estimated bills for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020, you are advised to disregard these estimated bills. You may have received or will be receiving new bill/s for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020. These new bills are based on actual meter reading.

For the bill months of March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020, the demand reflected in your new bill/s is based on the following:

For General Power and General Service B customers with load profile meters, on actual load profile data registered in the meters.
For General Power and General Service B customers without load profile meters, on actual kWh consumption registered in the meters.

2. How will I know which of my bills are estimated and which are new?

To find out if your bill is estimated:

Check Metering Information at upper left portion at the back of the bill. If ALL the columns “PREV RDG” (previous meter reading), “PRES RDG” (present meter reading), “MULT” (multiplier) and “REGISTERED” on the upper left side contain numbers, then your bills are based on actual meter reading. Otherwise, it is estimated.

How will I know which of my bills are estimated and which are new?

To find out if you got a new bill, check the Billing Info at the front of the bill. Billing date and Due Date reflect current month or the month when the new bill was received. But the Meter Reading Date and Billing Period reflect the months of March, April or May 2020.

Billing information

3. I stopped/reduced my operations during ECQ but my bills are still high. (For cases wherein May bills are still estimated, this will be corrected when we have the actual reading)

If you have low to zero consumption during ECQ but still got high bills, it is because your bills were estimated based on your consumption pre-ECQ which were higher than your current consumption. If you received estimated bills for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020, you are advised to disregard these estimated bills. You may have received or will be receiving new bill/s for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020. These new bills are based on actual meter reading.

4. Will you still bill me for the Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand (GMBD) for my ECQ bills?

To assist our business customers in this time of crisis, we are suspending the Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand (GMBD) for bills due from March 16 to June 30, 2020.

5. Will you still extend the GMBD suspension after June 30?

In consideration of the restrictions imposed under applicable Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines on Community Quarantine*, Meralco implemented the following:

*As of June 3, 2020:

For industries that have been allowed 50% to full operational capacity, have been allowed skeleton workforce to 50% operational capacity or have not been allowed to operate as of June 1, 2020, Meralco extended the suspension of the GMBD to bills dated July 1 to 31, 2020.
For industries that have been allowed full operational capacity as of June 1, 2020, Meralco resumed the GMBD for bills dated July 1, 2020 onwards.

*Based on amendments as of July 16, 2020:

For industries that have been allowed skeleton workforce to 50% operational capacity or have not been allowed to operate, Meralco extended the suspension of the GMBD to bills dated August 1 to 31, 2020.
For industries that have been allowed full operational capacity or have been allowed 50% to full operational capacity, Meralco resumed the GMBD for bills dated August 1, 2020 onwards.

6. What is the impact of the GMBD suspension to my bill?

Before the GMBD suspension, business customers are billed based on actual demand or the GMBD, whichever is higher. As shown in the example below (gray bars)

Case 1: If actual demand (90kW) is higher than GMBD (70 kW), the customer will be billed based on actual demand (90 kW).
Case 2: If actual demand (50kW) is lower than GMBD (70kW), the customer will be billed based on GMBD (70kW).

With the GMBD suspension for business customers, demand is billed based on the following:

As shown in the example below (orange bars)

For General Power and General Service B customers with load profile meters, demand is based on actual load profile data registered in the meters.
Case 1: If actual demand (90kW) is higher than GMBD (70kW), the customer will be billed based on actual demand (90kW).
Case 2: If actual demand (50kW) is lower than GMBD (70kW), the customer will be billed based on actual demand (50kW).

As shown in the example below (blue bars)

For General Power and General Service B customers without load profile meters, demand is based on actual kWh consumption registered in the meters.
Case 1: If demand based on actual kWh consumption (90kW) is higher than GMBD (70kW), the customer will be billed on demand based on actual kWh consumption (90kW).
Case 2: If demand based on actual kWh consumption (50kW) is lower than GMBD (70kW), the customer will be billed on demand based on actual kWh consumption (50kW).

What is the impact of the GMBD suspension to my bill?

7. Will my bill be delivered to me during the Enhanced Community Quarantine?

As a power distribution company, the inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allowed Meralco to deliver bills except for areas with ECQ constraints

8. I can’t wait for the bill delivery. I want a copy of my bill now.

You may get a copy of your bill via Meralco Online.

Log in to Meralco Online to view your bill. You may also download a PDF copy
If you don’t have an account yet, sign up to Meralco Online

For any concerns, email us at biz@meralco.com.ph or call 16210.

9. I saw an announcement that says the collection of the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge is suspended (UC-EC). How will that affect my bill?

In compliance with the May 22 Advisory of the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge of P 0.0025/ kWh is suspended starting with June bills until further notice.

Example:

June bill: 1,000 kWh

UC-EC: P0.0025/kWh

Savings: P 2.50

However, the following Universal Charges will remain:

Universal Charge-Missionary Electrification: P 0.1561/kWh
Universal Charge-Stranded Debts: P 0.0428/kWh

10. Why is there a Meter Reading cost refund? Will I get it?

Meralco implemented a one-time refund of the meter reading costs for customers whose meters were not read during the ECQ/MECQ period (March 16 to May 31, 2020). This refund can be found as a separate line item, tagged as “Meter Reading Cost Refund," in the Applied Credits section of your bill.

Payment

1. Which bills are covered by the installment plan and when will it start?

To ease your payment burden, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed all distribution utilities to provide an installment plan to their customers. Accordingly, Meralco business customers are entitled to this installment plan for bills falling due from March 1 to May 31, 2020.

If you consumed 200 kWh or lower based on your February 2020 bill, you are entitled to pay your bills in six equal monthly installments.
If you consumed 201 kWh or higher based on your February 2020 bill, you are entitled to pay your bills falling due from March 1 to May 31, 2020 in four equal monthly installments.

Your first installment is due starting July 15, 2020. You will receive a separate installment bill that is due every 15th of the month.

2. How do I know if I am qualified for 6 months or 4 months installment plan?

All customers with consumption of 200 kWh and below as of Feb 2020 are qualified to avail of the 6 months installment plan for unpaid ECQ bills
All other customers are given 4 months installment plan for unpaid ECQ bills

3. Why is the installment plan longer for customers consuming 200 kWh and below?

The 6-month installment plan applies to customers with lifeline subsidy.

4. Can you explain how the installment plan will be implemented?

Example 1: A customer with February 2020 bill that is 200 kWh and below is entitled to pay bills falling due from March 1 to May 31, 2020 in six equal monthly installments.

March bill	P 1,500
April bill	P 1,650
May bill	P 2,250
Total	P 5,400
Monthly installment for 6 months	P 900

Payment schedule for regular and installment bills:

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monthly installment for ECQ bills due every 15^th of the month	900	900	900	900	900	900
Regular monthly bill, payable based on bill due date	2,100	2000	1,800	1,500	1,500	1,500
Total payable every month	3,000	2,900	2,700	2,400	2,400	2,400

Example 2: A customer with February 2020 bill that is 201 kWh and above is entitled to pay bills falling due from March 1 to May 31, 2020 in four equal monthly installments.

March bill	P 25,000
April bill	P 27,000
May bill	P 33,000
Total	P 85,000
Monthly installment for 4 months	P 21,250

Payment schedule for regular and installment bills:

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Monthly installment for ECQ bills due every 15^th of the month	21,250	21,250	21,250	21,250	No installment
Regular monthly bill, payable based on bill due date	15,000	15,000	15,000	20,000	20,000
Total payable every month	36,250	36,250	36,250	41,250	20,000

5. What if I already paid my estimated bills? How can I validate my payments?

In case you have paid any of your estimated bill/s for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020, these payments have been properly accounted for. You can validate the payments you made for March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020 bill/s on page 2 of your future bill under the line “Applied Credits”.

What if I already paid my estimated bills How can I validate my payments

6. I already paid my estimated bills. Can I still avail of the installment plan?

In case you have paid your March 2020, April 2020 and/or May 2020 estimated bill/s and you want to avail of the installment plan, Meralco will refund the payments to you at its Business Centers or Payments Office at the Meralco Center upon presentation of your proof of payment, proper identification and authorization. The refunded amount will then be treated as part of your unpaid balance and will be included in your installment plan.

Amount

Type

Requirements

Less than Php 5,000

Cash

Proof of payment (e.g. official receipt)
One government-issued ID
If the bill is not under your name and the refund is for a company, additional requirements are as follows:

1. 2 government-issued IDs

2. Proof of ownership

3. SEC certificate of registration, etc.

More than Php 5,000

Check

7. Is my February bill included in the installment option?

Bills due before March 1, 2020 are not qualified for the installment option.

8. I haven’t paid my February bill. I am trying to pay online but couldn’t proceed.

If you have an unpaid bill that was due before March 1, this will still be reflected in your bill as balance from previous billing. Since this bill is overdue, the easiest way to pay is via Meralco Online or at Meralco Business Centers.

If you plan to pay through other channels – Payment partners, bank websites or apps, you must request for a new ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number to be able to pay through these channels.

For any concerns, email us at biz@meralco.com.ph or call 16210.

9. Can I pay for my installment bill earlier than the 15th?

Yes, you can pay for your installment earlier than the 15th. Please use the ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number found in your installment bill.

10. Can I pay for my installment bill later than the 15th?

If you’re paying beyond the due date, you can pay through the following channels:

Meralco Online
Meralco Mobile App
Meralco Business Centers
Bayad Centers

The ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number found in your installment bill is valid only until the 15th of every month in which you received your installment bill. If paying through banks and other authorized partners, you will need a new ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number to be able to pay.

11. Can I pay for my installment bill together with my regularly monthly bill?

If you are paying online, the bills have to be paid separately using the specific ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number printed on each of the bills.

If paying over-the-counter at our business centers or payment partners and would like to minimize visits, you can pay your bills at the same time but make sure to pay on or before the due date to avoid inconvenience. Please present both bills when paying as these will be processed separately.

12. Do I need to bring a copy of my installment bill when paying?

For your convenience, make sure to bring a copy of your installment bill when paying for your installment bill. If you will pay for your regular bill, please bring a copy of your regular bill.

13. Can I request for the installment plan to be stretched longer?

For now, we can only offer you the 4-month or 6-month installment plans, whichever is applicable to your account based on your consumption as of Feb 2020.

14. As a result of COVID, I stopped operations and do not have enough funds to pay for my bills. What are my options?

Your ECQ bills can be settled in 4-month or 6-month installment, whichever is applicable to your account. GMBD is also temporarily waived for ECQ bills.

15. I won’t resume operations yet, probably later this year. How will you bill me for months without operation, after ECQ/MECQ/MGCQ is lifted?

We will bill you based on actual reading.

16. I don’t want to avail of the installment plan. Can I settle my bills in full?

You may pay in full through:

Meralco Onlineor Meralco Mobile App
Meralco Business Centers or Bayad Centers: Please bring your March, April and May bills.
Banks and other authorized payment channels: Please bring your March, April and May bills and ensure that you have new/updated ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number.

If you want to pay in full through any of our payment partners, you can’t use the ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number printed on your installment bill. Please request for a new ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number though the following channels:

Send an email to biz@meralco.com.ph
Call our business hotline 16210

Please get in touch with us via the following channels if you have concerns regarding your bill:

Email us at biz@meralco.com.ph
Call our business hotline 16210

17. Where can I pay my bills?

We highly encourage you to pay your bills via online channels:

Meralco Online
Meralco Mobile App: download on Google Play or App Store
Online banking: BancNet, BDO, BPI, Chinabank, HSBC, Metrobank, PNB, RCBC, UCPB, UnionBank
Mobile banking: BDO, Chinabank, Metrobank, UnionBank
Apps/websites: Gcash, Paymaya, Coins.ph, Justpay.to

You may also sign up to automatic payment arrangement through your bank or credit card. Please get in touch with your bank for details.
Note: For Authorized Withholding Agents (AWA), the following banks have a CWT printing facility: Asia United Bank, Chinabank, PNB, RCBC, Robinsons Bank, Security Bank and Union Bank

You may also pay over-the-counter at Bayad Center branches and our partner banks: BDO, BPI, Chinabank, East West Bank, Equicom Savings, PBCOM, RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation), Robinsons Savings Bank, UCPB, Union Bank

When paying via Meralco Payment partners, make sure you have a copy of your bill and your ATM/Phone/Meralco reference number to be able to pay.

18. I have no means to pay online, what are the payment options available for me?

You may pay over-the-counter at Bayad Center branches and our partner banks:
BDO, BPI, Chinabank, East West Bank, Equicom Savings, PBCOM, RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation), Robinsons Savings Bank, UCPB, Union Bank

When paying via Meralco Payment partners, make sure you have a copy of your bill and your ATM/Phone/Meralco reference number to be able to pay:

When paying at Bayad Center, Bayad Center partners and Union Bank, you need to provide your Meralco reference number found at the bottom of your bill.
When paying in other Banks, you need to provide the ATM/Phone/Meralco Reference Number found at the bottom of the bill and bill amount. You will also be asked to fill out a form with your other contact details.

19. I’m currently enrolled in Automatic Payment Arrangement (Auto Charge/Auto Debit). Will my payment be affected?

Currently, Installment bills of customers cannot be enrolled under the ADA/ACA Arrangement. Regular monthly bills are part of the Auto Debit and Auto Credit Arrangement. Please contact your respective banks should you wish to modify your arrangements regarding bill payments

20. What if I can’t pay my bill/s? Will you disconnect my service?

Meralco will not implement service disconnections until October 31, 2020.