ERC implements rules on e-billing

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has promulgated its official rules for power distributors to shift to paperless billing following a series of public consultations.

The ERC issued the Rules on Electronic Billing and Communications for Electricity Consumers to offer an alternative means for distribution utilities to dispatch bills and other communications to consumers through online platforms.

“The e-billing rules were developed to utilize advance technologies in order to streamline and enhance the issuance and delivery of electricity bills and other communications to consumers,” ERC officer-in-charge Alfredo Non said.

The e-billing rules provide that all customers may opt to receive electronic bills and electronic communication in lieu of paper-based bills and communications from their concerned distribution utilities (DUs).

ERC said existing customers could migrate to receiving electronic bills and other communications upon notice from the DU and subject to the ERC and the concerned DU’s rules and regulations on electronic billing and communications.

New customers, on the other hand, may exercise this option at the time of the approval of the application for electric service.

“The e-billing rules shall apply to all distribution utilities within their respective franchise areas and their customers,” Non said.It will cover all communications and bills issued by the DU in relation to an approved contract for electric service of a customer.

Under the rules, distribution utilities are required to draft their own procedure on e-billing; provide options for consumers on how to receive e-bills; and conduct an annual revalidation of emails of actual end-users.

On the part of the customers, if they choose to receive their bills electronically, they have to provide an e-mail address where the documents will be forwarded and conscientiously check for any and all receipts of electronic bills or other electronic communications.