DOE, Private Sector to Make Safer Power Available for Poor Communities

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Indigent families and informal settlers had to meet all the legal and financial requirements to get access to electricity. But now, they will be given a chance to enjoy the benefits of electricity services through the Department of Energy’s Electrification Program in collaboration with Manila Electric Company (MERALCO).

From 08 July 2016 to the present, the DOE-MERALCO partnership has electrified a total of 5,263 households in such areas as Gaya-Gaya in San Jose del Monte and other municipalities in Bulacan, Laguna and some parts of Rizal and Happy Land Aroma, BASECO Compound, Isla Puting Bato and Parola in Tondo, Manila.

By helping indigent families secure legal electrical connections, the DOE together with the help of distribution utilities can further reduce the risk of fire hazards, which may be caused by the illegal use of electricity.

The unlawful use of electricity is prohibited under Republic Act No. 7832, otherwise known as the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission lines/Materials Act of 1994. Among the prohibited acts include: wire-tapping, tampering, installing, or using tampered electrical meter, jumper, current reversing transformer, shorting or shunting wire, loop connection or any attempt to destroy any accessory of the metering device box which encases an electric meter or its metering accessories.

The Magna Carta for Residential Consumers also disallows consumers from performing acts related to the pilferage of electricity. The Code reinforces the Anti-Pilferage Act by reiterating the circumstances that constitute prima facie evidence of the illegal use of electricity.

These policies serve as DOE’s guidelines to safeguard the welfare of the consumers against any untoward incidents such as fire that may have been triggered by faulty electrical wiring destroying properties and even resulting in loss of lives.

The DOE enjoins local officials and leaders to get more actively involved in ensuring safe legal electrical connections to protect communities thereby allowing the cities and municipalities to also earn more revenues from delivering better services to the people.

The DOE remains committed to fulfill its household electrification program, especially benefiting those living in economically depressed communities by providing them legal, secure, safe and stable supply of electricity.

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