Extended lifeline aid being rolled out

To help consumers cope with the rising prices, more beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps, and other marginalized households will continue to receive discounts on their electricity bills — thanks to the extended lifeline rate program.

Government regulators moved the full implementation of the new Lifeline Rate Program to January 2024 to allow for a more assertive promotion and registration and entice users to avail of the electricity lifeline rate subsidy.

A lifeline rate is a subsidized rate charged low-income users consuming less than 100 kilowatt-hours per month who cannot afford to pay the full cost of the electricity. The rate reduction scale varies depending on the prevailing rates of the distribution utilities, or DUs.

For instance, lifeline end-users in the Meralco franchise area with zero to 20 kilowatt-hours monthly consumption will be granted a 100-percent discount on generation charges, except for the fixed metering charge of P5. Typically, they only pay P20 for their electricity.

Other marginalized end-user applicants who are not 4Ps beneficiaries but belong to a household of at least five members with a combined monthly income of P12,030 must submit to their DUs a certification by their local Social Welfare Development Office.

The monthly income threshold may vary for each DU franchise area as may be determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

"This is a Christmas gift for our countrymen who are struggling in life. The government will extend the electricity subsidy until January 2024," Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Monday.

Gatchalian, who was the principal author of Republic Act 11552 or an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate, enjoined qualified customers to register for the program.

To avail of the subsidy, Gatchalian said beneficiaries must consume not more than 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

The program covers households that are unable to pay their bills, including 4Ps beneficiaries, or customers living below the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority.