Push Admin

Duterte OKs extension of electricity 'lifeline rate' for poorest households

Article (news)

1696683

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/31/20201230-linemen-electrical-repair-gc-19.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Linemen work on electric cables in Purok 2, Barangay Culiat Quezon City on Dec. 30, 2020. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved into law the extension of the &quot;lifeline&quot; or subsidized electricity rate for the poorest households, according to a document that Malacañang released on Monday. </p><p>Duterte signed Republic Act 11552 that amends the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2011, under which the lifeline rate provision would expire on June 26 this year.</p><p>&quot;A socialized pricing mechanism called a lifeline rate for qualified marginalized end-users shall be set by the ERC which will exempted from the cross subsidy phaseout under this Act for a period of fifty (50) years, unless otherwise extend by law,&quot; reads part of the amendment. </p><p>This is &quot;to provide assistance to electricity consumers, especially those living below the poverty line, and to achieve a more equitable distribution of the lifeline subsidy,&quot; adds the law. </p><p>Lifeline beneficiaries will include those covered by the conditional cash transfer program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, or those who are certified by their respective distribution utilities as under the poverty threshold. </p><div><a class="embedly-card" data-card-controls="0" href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/31/ra-no-11552.pdf?ext=.pdf">Card</a> <script async="" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charSet="UTF-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Some 5.5 million households will benefit from the pricing mechanism and have an estimated annual saving of P900 on electricity expenses, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said. </p><p>They consume 100 kilowatt hour or less per month, said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate energy committee. </p><p>The lifeline rate subsidy being paid by non-lifeline consumers in the Meralco franchise is Php 0.0478 per kWh, added the lawmaker. </p><p>This is the second time the lifetime rate provision was extended. It was first extended for 10 years in 2011.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1696683" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte has approved into law the extension of the "lifeline" or subsidized electricity rate for the poorest households, according to a document that Malacañang released on Monday. </p>

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved into law the extension of the "lifeline" or subsidized electricity rate for the poorest households, according to a document that Malacañang released on Monday.