The National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Thursday enjoined the electric cooperatives (ECs) to provide a 30-day payment extension for electricity bills in support of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong issued Memorandum No. 2020-011, endorsing the Department of Energy’s advisory that urges distribution utilities, including the 121 ECs nationwide, to give their consumers a 30-day extension in settling their electricity bills due from March 15 to April 14, 2020.
The move is in line with the government’s declaration of a state of calamity throughout the country for six months, and the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine over the entire island of Luzon due to the continuing spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday (March 18), the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an advisory addressed to all private and public corporations in the power sector on deferring payments of obligations and dues for 30 days after April 14, 2020 for the benefit of consumers.
Meanwhile, the NEA through Deputy Administrator for Legal Services Atty. Rossan Rosero-Lee issued an advisory dated March 17, 2020, giving all ECs and litigants a 30-day extension to file their petitions and appeals, complaints, motions, pleadings and other submissions to the Administrative Committee due from March 15 to April 15, 2020. ###