By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
PASIG CITY – Meralco Vice President for Corporate Communications and Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga on Wednesday (Oct. 30) said that they have just finished dealing with typhoon Kristine which affected around 500,000 customers.
“As of today, actually during the weekend, we have completed the work. We have completed the work on areas whose power were cut off during the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine,” Zaldarriaga said.
During the Kapihan sa Metro East Media Forum organized by the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps and supported by the Pinoy Ako advocacy group, Zaldarriaga said “We are serving close to eight million customers. We would like to assure our customers that our cybersecurity is intact. Wala pa pong pagkakataon na na-compromise ang cybersecurity ng Meralco.”
”We make sure that we are not penetrable. Wala pong instances na na-compromise ang aming cybersecurity. Wala pong pagkakataon na nacompromise ang aming data. Safe po ang lahat ng data na hawak ng Meralco,” he said.
Under the law, not only Meralco but also the private power utilities, also have systems loss at 6.5 or 12 percent. The recovery level of electric cost is higher because the efficiency of the .
“We are on target to hit below six percent, as far as Meralco is concerned. Ngayon, can we do away with zero.
Technical loss, pilferage – elevated metering devices – just like any electric current, talagang merong system loss, if the target that has been set cannot be achieved,
“Ang hustisya ay maibaba mo dun sa si-net na cap or 6.5 percent systems loss. But in our case, hindi kami umaabot sa 6.5 percent, bagkus napapababa pa namin sa less than 6.5 percent. Yun po ang hustisya,” Zaldarriaga said.
“System loss cap” is explicitly provided for under the law.
Zaldarriaga assured that not even a peso will be charged to the customers as it is already included in the monthly rates, contrary to reports that damage caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine will have a cost to the customers of Meralco.
“We cannot compromise the safety if there’s still flooding in the franchise areas of Meralco,” Zaldarriaga said.
He categorically said that the “energy saving” device is a “scam”. He advised the Filipinos not to patronize such products which may even cost P3,000 as they are not really cost-effective.
Net metering is such that you generate electricity from solar power device, which is not always safe, and one has to consult Meralco first before engaging into such solar device.
As of today, we are not yet installing the “pay load”, we are just installing the regular load in the sense that, one may request for an installation but could not pay his power consumption.
For every P1.00, only 25 to 30 centavos go to Meralco or the utility company.
On the integrated wiring underground system, Zaldarriag said, that Meralco is now studying the matter although there is a corresponding cost and it is included in the “overall planning” of Meralco.
Zaldarriaga has just announced the 36 centavos per kilowatthour decrease in the electric bill for October and for the months of November and December– in the last two months of the year, Zaldarriaga said “I think it is stable.”
The coming first two months of 2025 (January/February) are cold months where power cost is stable, but with the summer months (March-June), may mean a higher power cost.
Zaldarriaga advised customers about “energy efficiency” as a way of life such that it is not “tangible” so much so that before using electricity, one should think about using it safely and efficiently.
Set the aircon temperature at 25 degrees Celsius, especially when it is already cold at night or early dawn to save on electricity.
There is the so-called “billing period” from the time the meter is read, the electric bill is out and the customer is given the time to settle the account, if unable to settle the account, a notice of disconnection will then follow.
Meralco has partnerships with areas outside its franchise area so that it can help with such areas ang bring them power at reasonable rates of P18-P19 per kilowatthour with uninterrupted service and “Narito kami para tumulong.” Zaldarriaga said.
“Mayroon kaming 100 percent solar electrification initiatives to electrify the “off grid” areas,” he said.
Zaldarriaga assured that Meralco is ready to respond to any emergency or weather disturbance that may affect Meralco customers.