Iloilo City – In an unexpected twist, many customers of MORE Power Iloilo were delighted to receive correspondence informing them of a reimbursement for their deposit payment. Josephine Kanagasingam, who had requested electricity services three years ago during the transitional phase with the previous distribution company, was one of the individuals who received the letter.
Josephine, like many others, had gone through the application process and paid a bill deposit of 4,000 pesos for her electrical connection. 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 4,000 pesos she had paid three years ago, plus the accumulated interest earned, which will be deducted from her next billing.
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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. In the past, other companies would keep the deposits, which were even larger. So, thank you very much, MORE Power!”
Josephine was one of twenty 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 Kgd. Keiffer Espinosa, received their refunds.
Violeta, a different customer of MORE Power, resided in Brgy. Rizal Pala-Pala, which is renowned as one of the most densely inhabited regions in Iloilo City. She conveyed her appreciation to MORE Power for not only the reimbursement but also for streamlining the application procedure in contrast to the previous distribution company. “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”, expressed by Tiangson.
Kgd. Keiffer Espinosa expressed comparable feelings, highlighting the convenience of applying for service, establishing a connection, and making payments with MORE Power. To ensure uninterrupted service, he made a one-month deposit and intends to utilize the refund he received for his upcoming billing cycle.
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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. Apart from the bill deposit, 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.”
Mr. 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 twenty. He 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 twenty 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.
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