Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to implement a temporary 'no disconnection' policy for Meralco customers who are formally disputing unusually high electricity bills allegedly caused by erroneous meter readings.

According to Hontiveros, consumers should not be forced to pay disputed charges just to avoid losing electricity, especially when the billing issue may have resulted from mistakes beyond their control.

She cited reports of increasing complaints, including a case where a household allegedly received a high electricity bill despite having its circuit breakers switched off while the family was away on vacation.

Hontiveros said legitimate billing disputes should be resolved through a fair, fast, and effective process, noting that affected consumers may need the money for other essential household expenses instead of paying questionable charges.

She also announced that she will file a Senate resolution seeking an investigation by the Senate energy committee into the reported cases of erroneous meter readings and billing disputes.

In response, Meralco clarified through Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga that customers with pending billing complaints are not required to settle the disputed portion of their bills while their cases are under review, and their electricity service will not be disconnected during the investigation.

The company also said it had suspended disconnection activities for unpaid bills covering the May to July 2026 billing periods in compliance with an ERC directive.Meralco added that it continues to address customer concerns through its official service channels and is reviewing each complaint diligently.GMA News also sought the ERC's comment regarding the matter.