An electric power distributor has refuted claims that it will implement scheduled brownouts for three months.
Meralco on Tuesday, March 31, labeled the circulating posts as “fake news” in a reshared statement.
“Hindi totoo! Hindi magkakaroon ng tatlong buwan na brownout sa mga customer ng Meralco. Iyan ang nilinaw ng kumpanya matapos ang kumakalat na maling impormasyon sa social media,” it said.
“Pinapaalalahanan ang publiko na maging mapanuri sa mga nababasa online,” Meralco added.
“We have noticed several posts circulating about extended, long-term power outages. These reports are unauthorized and incorrect,” it said in another post.
Meralco also urged the public to follow the official pages of the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission for updates.
The firm shared links to its own official channels, including its website and accounts on Facebook, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube and LinkedIn to keep the public informed.
Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission previously said that electricity rates are expected to rise above normal levels during this dry season.
ERC chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan explained that higher shipping costs for oil, coal and natural gas, which fuel the country’s power plants, are expected to push electricity prices upward.
The surge in oil prices is linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Military strikes in the region have disrupted the transport of oil, driving prices significantly higher than usual.
