ILOILO City – Thousands of electricity consumers in Iloilo City could benefit from extended payment deadlines and temporary protection against power disconnection as MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) implements new relief measures ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) amid the continuing national energy emergency.
Under the ERC directive, residential consumers using no more than 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity monthly may qualify for protection against disconnection over unpaid November and December 2026 bills, provided they meet specified payment requirements.
The measures also allow qualified households to settle their November and December electricity bills in at least three equal monthly installments, easing the financial burden on consumers facing mounting utility expenses.
MORE Power announced that unpaid electricity bills covering May to July 2026 may be settled until November 26, 2026, while the deadline for unpaid bills covering August to October 2026 has been extended to December 26, 2026.
The payment extensions form part of the ERC’s consumer protection measures under Executive Order No. 110, issued on March 24, 2026, which declared a State of National Energy Emergency amid the conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The emergency declaration cited potential threats to the availability and stability of the Philippines’ energy supply.
Under the extended relief program, residential consumers whose monthly electricity consumption does not exceed 200 kWh must fully settle their unpaid regular bills and installment obligations covering May to July 2026 by November 26 to qualify for the suspension of disconnection for unpaid November and December bills.
Qualified consumers may also avail themselves of installment arrangements for their November and December bills, with payments spread over at least three equal monthly installments beginning upon receipt of their bills.
However, the ERC emphasized that the temporary suspension of disconnection does not apply to all electricity consumers.
Residential customers consuming more than 200 kWh monthly, as well as commercial and other non-residential consumers regardless of electricity consumption, are excluded from the disconnection protection.
These consumers must settle outstanding bills covering May to July 2026 by November 26 and those covering August to October 2026 by December 26 to avoid possible service interruption.
“Failure to pay their unpaid bills on the above-mentioned due dates shall authorize the DUs to disconnect the electricity of the Non-Covered Consumers, subject to prior written notice,” the ERC advisory stated.
Nevertheless, the commission clarified that distribution utilities may negotiate flexible installment payment arrangements with consumers who are not covered by the temporary disconnection protection, depending on individual circumstances.
The directive gives electricity consumers additional time to manage their financial obligations while requiring distribution utilities to observe the extended deadlines and prescribed safeguards before disconnecting service.
MORE Power urged its customers to familiarize themselves with the new payment schedules, determine whether they qualify for the relief measures, and settle their outstanding obligations within the prescribed periods.
The utility stressed the importance of complying with the ERC’s payment requirements to prevent unnecessary electricity disconnections./PN