Meralco sets comm’l launch of prepaid electricity scheme

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Electric Co. hopes to launch the commercial rollout of its prepaid electricity scheme in the first quarter of next year once it secures the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Alfredo S. Panlilio, Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services, said Meralco may commence the commercial rollout early next year in select areas including the City of Manila as among the first sites and eventually move on with the complete commercial rollout in the whole franchise area.

The full commercial rollout on the whole franchise area could take one to three years, he said.

A prepaid retail electricity scheme would allow power consumers to budget their electricity consumption as well as expenses. It would also enable them to monitor their electricity consumption as it happens.

The prepaid meter systems can tell consumers if their prepaid load is still enough for a given period and thus warn them if they need to reload to avoid disconnection.

A prepaid electricity system exists in other countries such as Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

He said Meralco is already threshing out tie-ups with telecommunication companies for an e-loading scheme.

The company is also working with the ERC for the details of the prepaid proposal and final approval.

For its part, the ERC said it would soon conduct hearings on the scheme.

“Meralco has filed its application approval for prepaid metering scheme in its franchise area and soon we will be conducting hearings and after approval, Meralco can roll out on a commercial basis the pre paid scheme,” ERC executive director Saturnino Juan said.

Meralco has been conducting technical pilot activities for the project with around 100 to 200 households.

Households availing of the program can go to Meralco business centers to reload but eventually, Meralco would allow reloading in Bayad Centers and Smart centers nationwide.

The pilot activities are meant to determine the viability of the planned prepaid platforms, the prepaid meters and the possible trouble-shooting mechanisms.

Meralco signed in October 2012 a prepaid electricity system deal with GE to facilitate the prepaid platform.