TAGUIG CITY, Dec. 28 – MANILA ELECTRIC Co. (Meralco) has energized 26,321 households as of mid-December, a figure which includes the 2,661 service areas identified by the Energy department where marginalized customers badly needed electricity.
Meralco said since July 8, it had brought electricity to 1,246 homes in Gaya-gaya in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. In Manila, the distribution utility energized seven households in Isla Puting Bato, 443 in Happyland/Aroma, 621 in Parola, and 258 in the Baseco compound. It has also started serving 86 homes in Southville, Muntinlupa City.
The company reached these areas since July or around the period when the Department of Energy (DoE) called on industry participants to bring their services to marginalized communities. The areas have a big number of dwellers in temporary housing who tap “unsafe” electricity from illegal sources.
“Please take note that we have included in this report (4,709 and 5,624) HH [households] energized under EMC [elevated metering centers] projects, Balik Liwanag Project, LGU projects and HH energized in ISC [illegal service connection] rampant areas that were not part of the [Department of Energy] identified areas,” the distribution utility said in a statement.
“These are marginalized customers energized in EMC projects which we have waived the project cost, LGU financed in-city relocation sites and ISC areas,” it added.
The DoE earlier reminded those with illegal service connections about Republic Act No. 7832 or the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994.
“Among the prohibited acts are: wire-tapping, tampering, installing, or using tampered electrical meter, jumper, current reversing transformer, shorting or shunting wire, loop connection, or any attempt to destroy any accessory of the metering device box which encases an electric meter or its metering accessories,” it said.
“This law serves as the DoE’s guideline in safeguarding the welfare of the consumers against any untoward incidents such as fire, which may be triggered by faulty electrical wiring that will destroy properties and cause the loss of lives,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.
Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. (DOE)
