CUSTOMERS of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may soon get some relief from high electricity prices as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the implementation of a P9.5-billion refund. In a 28-page decision promulgated July 31, the ERC directed Meralco to refund the equivalent rate of P0.3448 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) within six months as a separate line item in consumers’ electricity bills. The refund represents a price correction for the lapsed period from January to December 2025, as delays in the rate-setting process resulted in Meralco collecting more than what was eventually approved. In April, the ERC directed Meralco to accelerate the implementation of the P19.96-billion rebate to help cushion the impact of the Middle East conflict on power costs. Meralco is currently implementing the remaining P14.17-billion balance, which translates to an average refund rate of P0.2511 per kWh.