“’Yung rules and guidelines para ma-implement ‘yong refund ng meter deposits ay kapipirma ko lang ngayon… ‘pag natanggap ng mga DUs [distribution utilities] at i-publish namin within six months from the effectivity of the publication of the rules… simula na i-refund ‘yong meter deposits,” said ERC chair Rodolfo Albano.

Aside from the meter deposits, distribution utilities will have to return a 6% interest for those who paid for meter deposits before 1995, and 10% from 1995 until 2004, when meter deposit collection was stopped.

The ERC will give distribution utilities up to 66 months or 5 years to return all meter deposits.

Consumers meanwhile will have the option to get their refund in cash or check, or they can also have it credited in their future bills.

Meralco said it is amenable to the meter deposit refunds.

“Palagay ko naman mas marami sa atin na sasabihin na i-credit na lang sa mga future bills, dahil hindi na silang mag-aabalang pupunta pa sa mga opisina ng Meralco, at makikita na lang nila na ia-awas dun sa kanilang mga darating na mga bill ‘yong amount na meter deposit na binigay nila,” said Meralco spokesperson Elpi Cuna.

Some however are quite doubtful about the guidelines.

Consumer group National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform (Nasecore) said the guidelines should not be released because of pending consultations.

It added the ERC does not even know how much will be refunded by distribution utilities.

“Dapat bago ilabas yung mga guidelines eh malaman muna ng mga consumers kung magkano ang refund ng bawat isang customer,” said Nasecore president Pete Ilagan.

The ERC meanwhile admitted that they still need to audit the meter deposits to find out how much will be refunded, but they strongly denied that they had consultation lapses.

“Na-publish ito, nagkaroon ng notices, nagkaroon ng hearing. ‘Yang mga umaangal na ganyan, kung kailan natapos na, umaangal na ‘hindi kami kinonsulta,’ e ugali na lang nila ‘yan… ‘Pag kinokonsulta naman namin, sumusulat, hindi kami makapunta may mga katuwiran,” Albano said.

Nasecore will file a motion for reconsideration at the ERC to block the implementation of the guidelines.

If the ERC will turn a deaf ear on their motion, Nasecore vows that they are ready to file the motion up to the Supreme Court. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News