The Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cenpelco) will waive April electric bills for consumers with a power consumption below 25-kilowatt hour (kWh).
Cenpelco general manager engineer Rodrigo Corpuz said that this aims to bring relief to consumers who are in the marginalized sector during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-10) pandemic.
“We call this Pantawid Liwanag Program for the lifeline consumers. They are usually indigents using only one to three bulbs in their homes thus consuming only below 25 kWh. We wanted to help them as they are the most affected in this crisis,” he was quoted in a report.
There are around 42,000 households categorized as lifeline consumers, however Cenpelco will waive the billing of those with consumption under 25 kWh this month.
Meanwhile, Corpuz added that the electric bill of consumers is expected to increase due to the enforced enhanced community quarantine.
“But in connection with the advisory of the Department of Energy as we are all affected by the crisis, we will allow staggered payment of March and April billing starting May to August this year without any interest or surcharges,” he said.
Cenpelco supplies power to a total of 230,000 consumers in 14 towns and one city in Pangasinan.
