ILOILO City – For the first time, electricity consumers here are getting a refund of their bill deposits, and they all welcome with delight this surprising turn of events.
“In the past, other companies would keep the deposits, which were even larger,” said Josephine Kanagasingam who was one of numerous consumers of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) happy to receive letters notifying them of a refund for their bill deposit.
Three years ago during the transition period with the former distribution utility, Kanagasingam applied for electricity. For her electrical connection, she had gone through the application process and paid a bill deposit of P4,000 like many others.
Recently, while going through her mail, she came across a notice from MORE Power, Iloilo City’s power distribution utility. Curious, she visited MORE Power’s office to verify the legitimacy of the letter, only to be surprised that she was indeed eligible for a refund – the same P4,000 she had paid three years ago, plus the accumulated interest earned, which will be deducted from her next billing.
Speaking about her experience, Josephine expressed her gratitude, saying, “I asked the staff there if it was true, and they confirmed that it was. I really appreciate MORE Power because they are returning it. It’s the first time I’ve experienced a deposit being refunded. So, thank you very much, MORE Power!”
Josephine was one of 20 consumers who qualified for a refund by consistently paying their bills on time for 36 months, equivalent to three years. In a simple ceremony, she and her fellow consumers, Violeta and Kagawad Keiffer Espinosa, received their refunds.
Violeta, another MORE Power consumer, hailed from Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, one of the most densely populated areas in Iloilo City. She expressed her gratitude to MORE Power not only for the refund but also for simplifying the application process compared to the previous distribution utility.
“MORE Power has not only improved our lives through reliable electricity but has also shown a genuine commitment to the welfare of its customers. The refund received has made a tremendous difference in my child’s health, allowing us to continue providing the necessary care,” said Tiangson.
Espinosa shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the ease of application, connection, and payment under MORE Power. He ensured timely payment by providing a one-month deposit to avoid disconnection, and he plans to deposit the refund he received for the next billing period.
According to the Magna Carta for Residential Consumers, bill deposits can be refunded to consumers who have paid on time for 36 months without experiencing disconnection.
An annual interest rate is also credited to the customer’s account to be deducted from their next billing.
The Iloilo City Government commended MORE Power for this historic initiative, with Francis Cruz, Special Assistant to Mayor Jerry Treñas, stating, “Today’s turnover ceremony symbolizes the unwavering dedication that you, the remarkable team at MORE Power, have exhibited in providing the best possible service to the Ilonggos.”
Roel Castro, president of MORE Power, clarified that the refunds are not rewards but rather rights of every consumer based on the law.
He highlighted the attention their program has garnered, stating that initially, only three consumers qualified for refunds, but now there are 20.
Castro reiterated that the bill deposit belongs to the consumers, and it is the law’s mandate to return it.
In June, three consumers qualified for the bill deposit refund, and this month, MORE Power identified 20 more eligible consumers. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman, Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, praised MORE Power for consistently setting an example for other distribution utilities to follow./PN
