BACOLOD City – The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) once again implemented a 30-day grace period for power bills due from Sept. 8 to 30 – the period when the city reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine(MECQ).
Last month, Ceneco also suspended disconnections, said Ceneco officer-in-charge Maria Agnes Claro.
The 30-day grace period only applies to its member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of Ceneco-Bacolod franchise area.
“After the grace period, if the bill still unsettled, MCOs can still pay in three installments,” Claro said.
The payment installment scheme will be reflected in the next bill, she added.
No interest, penalties and fees shall be charged to bills being paid during the extended grace period.
However, MCOs who are capable to pay their bills in full within the original due dates are highly encouraged to do so, said Claro.
“The extended grace period is in consonance with the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2),” she added.
Bayanihan 2 mandates all institutions providing electric, water, telecommunications and other similar utilities to implement a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of utilities falling due within the period of ECQ or MECQ without incurring interest, penalties and other charges.
According to Claro, unpaid residential, Micro-Small, Medium Enterprise (MSME) and cooperatives utility bills may be settled on a staggered basis payable in not less than three monthly installments after the grace period.
“Unpaid bills not falling due within the MECQ period are not covered by the extended grace period and installment payment scheme,” she clarified. Claro encouraged MCOs to settle their unpaid bills to avoid the inconvenience brought about by disconnection./PN
