Prepaid electricity is good for consumers – ERC

CEBU, Philippines - Although the prepaid electric metering system is something new for the Filipinos, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it is good for electricity consumers in general.

ERC commissioner Gerry Sta. Ana made this comment following Visayas Electric Company's (VECO) pronouncement that it is readying its infrastructure for commercial deployment of prepaid electricity.

"Prepaid metering will educate people how to effectively manage power consumption. Meralco's result is good so far," said Sta. Ana.

VECO senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO) Anton Mari Perdices earlier said that the company's full implementation is dependent on the ERC go signal.

Sta. Ana said the ERC will give the go signal  as soon as the commission will complete its needed pre-requisite documents for the approval.

In June last year, ERC approved Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) application for commercial deployment of prepaid retail electricity service, similar to the scheme used for cellular phones, which boosted mobile phone usage in the country.

For VECO, Perdices said aside from its identified target prepaid consumers like condominium, apartment, and business buildings owners, they still have to see the interest of its over 300 thousand electric consumers in its franchised area in Cebu.

Looking forward, Perdices said VECO is aiming to tap neighborhood stores to sell prepaid electricity cards, or electronic loads, just like cellular phones.  (FREEMAN)