A PUBLIC utility is a company that operates as a public-service corporation, and provides essential services to the public such as electricity. Thus public utilities are public services.

Living up to the true essence of being in public service is what More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has recently done for the benefit of their customers. It’s a rare opportunity for a big business entity like MORE Power to take an extra mile to truly serve the public.

MORE Power recently had the initiative to refund to their eligible customers their bill deposit. In a unique manner, they voluntarily informed their eligible customers on how to process their refund. Isn’t that pro-customers at its finest?

It was just in 2019 when the Franchise Law of MORE Power that services Iloilo City was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. It means that among the many numbers of Distribution Utilities (DUs) in the country or those that supply us electricity, More Power had complied with the provision of the Magna Carta for Residential Electric Consumers. Article 7 of the said law stipulates the right of the customers to a bill deposit refund.

“A customer who has paid his electric bills on or before its due date for three consecutive years may, however, demand for the full refund of the deposit even prior to the termination of his service.

An application for this purpose shall be filed with the concerned distribution utility which must refund the deposit within one month from receipt of such application,” Article 7 of the Magna Carta for Residential Electric Consumers stated.

However, the same provision states a condition that would qualify a customer for bill deposit refund. It is necessary that the electric bill has been paid on time and he has no record of missed payment that warrants cutting of power supply.

Majority of the customers could have complied with this condition, simply because electricity is a necessity. Electricity is a necessity especially in this digital age where access to the internet is very important, hence making power supply all the more needed.

But where is the bill deposit refund? Why are other DUs not taking that important initiative to give it back to their eligible customers?

Websites of some DUs indicate that a customer who has diligently paid his electric bills on or before its due date for three consecutive years can request for the full refund of his bill deposit. This is done by filing a bill deposit refund application. It’s very clear that the refund is not given voluntarily, but the customer still has to apply to process their refund.

However, the process can be very painstaking. Based on some DUs’ website, the procedure looks tricky if not ridiculous as it goes like this: To facilitate the bill deposit refund, the account owner should present the original official receipt. If the official receipt cannot be found, an affidavit of loss notarized by a registered attorney should be provided. If the account owner is deceased, the representative should provide a death certificate.

What for? Many customers may have already forgotten that they are eligible for a refund, and many may have actually lost their bill deposit receipt making it harder for them to process their application.

So MORE Power must be heaven-sent, being probably the first utility company that has taken that initiative. Most of the customers they called were surprised that their money would be returned to them. Indeed, sana all.

“Sana all” of the DUs has this kind of initiative especially because the amount of bill deposit varies as it depends on the amount of the service load you applied for and the amount of consumption.

Some bill deposits reach up to P10,000. For corporations and big businesses, it could even be higher. It would be a big help if DUs would return it at a time when most of us are still feeling the pinch of the pandemic.

MORE Power is being managed very well. It is evident in the statement of their President and CEO, Roel Castro who said, “Since we don’t have any intention to use the money, we do not have the intention to keep the money; we do not have the intention of using it for our operation; why keep it when it is already due for return, for the refund to customers?”

One can already surmise as to why the DUs do not return the bill deposit of their customers voluntarily. Maybe, they are using the money.

Another thing that Castro said in his interview with reporters is that they notice that customers do not ask about their bill deposit refund. But for MORE Power, there is no need for their customers to ask because even if they don’t ask for it, they are the ones who initiate the refund.

More Power should be commended and recognized for doing something never done by other DUs before. Here is a company that can provide quality service – one that is true and worthy to be matched. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should encourage other DUs to follow suit.

At any rate, MORE Power should be further appreciated because it seemingly continues to have the lowest power rates in the entire Visayas, and perhaps in the entire country.

That’s awesome!

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