[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’PECO mulls reforms in billing, meter reading’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Saturday,April 1, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – Stumped by complaints from consumers, the sole electrical power distributor in the city is considering reforms in its systems to address erroneous billing, among other issues.
Panay Electric Company (PECO) may offer a long-term payment plan for accumulated bills and create a task force focusing on billing and meter reading concerns, said Vice President for Operation Randy Pastolero.
Pastolero presented these, among other alternatives, on Friday during the second Sangguniang Panlungsod committee hearing on Councilor Joshua Alim’s proposed ordinance seeking a meter reading card system.
Under the payment plan, PECO consumers may settle accumulated bills in monthly installments without surcharges. Disconnection of meters of all affected consumers will be suspended, said Pastolero.
On top of an existing verification team, the “task force for field verification” will immediately verify questionable billings and adjust billing errors, he said.
Most of the PECO consumers present in yesterday’s committee hearing complained about erroneous bills.
PECO plans to reformat its electric bill to include a six-month meter reading information, including the meter reading, the date and the consumption, and the next meter reading schedule.
It also considers providing a call-and-text mobile phone hotline that will entertain inquiries on meter reading and billing — specifically, respond to queries within 24 hours from sending a template acknowledgment text.
PECO may also partially implement an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) program wherein 1,000 units of “smart meters” will be installed starting this month.
AMI is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers, according to SmartGrid.gov of the United States’ Department of Energy.
Meter reading accuracy is an advantage of the smart meters. No manpower is required to read them, PECO said. Smart meters could be a “permanent solution” to billing issues, the company added.
“All readings are programmed to go directly to the computers of PECO without any actual meter readers needed on the field,” said Corporate Communications Officer Mikel C. Afzelius. “This eliminates the human factor in meter reading and customers can fully rely on the accuracy of the billing.”
Fully implementing the AMI program is a long-term solution that will materialize within five years as it involves installing 10,000 smart meters a year until all old PECO meters are replaced, said the company.
Moreover PECO plans to develop before the year ends a web portal where consumers may log in and check meter reading information, previous billings and payment status, or report pilferage and service trouble, among others.
Alim’s proposed ordinance requires PECO to establish a “meter reading card system.” The councilor believes this will prevent confusion and complaints about the consumers’ power consumption.
“PECO will post a card on each consumer’s house. The card should reflect or record the monthly consumption,” said Alim.
The consumer is thus appraised of their monthly consumption, and can make a comparison or file a complaint if there are discrepancies before the issuance of a billing receipt, he said./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
