For some people, the electricity bill is something they dread receiving every month. As a majority of the day is now spent indoors and more people are working or studying at home, it is unavoidable that a household's energy consumption is higher than before the health crisis. This results in an electricity bill that is also higher than usual.

But there is a trick to become a wise consumer and it relies on knowing and managing your energy consumption.

To help Filipinos understand their bill and manage their electricity costs, power distribution company Meralco introduces its new and improved Meralco bill.

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Meralco's monthly billing will have a new look that highlights the most important information with an overall layout change and organization. It also includes the addition of new valuable information, all made to help Filipinos understand their energy consumption and manage it well.

To start, the revamped bill's paper size is increased to 8 x 11 inches, along with a bigger font size to make it easier for people to read. Pertinent information is now intuitively placed in the new bills section with a sky-blue box highlighting all the details customers need to know to pay the bill.

Those who are suffering from table fatigue with the old bill no longer need to worry as the new one comes with established sections and graphics to help customers understand their consumption.

Previously, one has to go to Business Centers or online to know which bills remain unpaid. This has been taken care of in the new design as it says what bills the customer has paid and what bills still need settling. Those who pay using installments also do not have to wait for a different bill as this is now included in the Total Amount Due Computation.

As knowing one's monthly consumption trends is key in taking charge of the electricity bill, Meralco expanded the original 13-month consumption summary to 24 months. Customers can now compare present and past consumption so they can monitor the patterns of their usage. They can now see which season they consume the most energy, such as the summer months, so they can be better prepared for the changes.

The company also included explainers showing a customer's average monthly consumption, average daily consumption, and how much that daily consumption amounts to in pesos. Plus, metering information is placed in front and broken down in an equation-type format to help customers understand their bills better.

That is not all. The company made sure to include sustainability in the new bill to help customers understand how much their energy choices are affecting the environment. It tells the customers how their monthly consumption affects the planet as measured by greenhouse gas emissions or GHG. This inclusion aims to help customers in not only making energy-efficient choices for their households to save money but also take care of the environment.

Apart from understanding your bill, here are a few other suggestions from Meralco on how you can manage your energy consumption at home.

1. Switch off and unplug devices when not in use

Switch off lights when not in use, especially during the day. Power off all devices before turning in for the night and check that all idle electronics are unplugged. Devices like televisions, microwaves, and printers use standby power, even when turned off, so it is better to unplug them so they do not consume unnecessary energy. Use a power strip or board to make it easy to switch off or unplug your appliances.

2. Clean and maintain appliances well

Dirty air conditioners or electric fans can heat up and consume more energy, that is why cleaning them regularly is a priority. Homeowners should also do the same for kitchen appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and ovens, and even laundry appliances like washing machines and dryers.

3. Choose the right energy-efficient appliances

Purchase energy-efficient products for the home and, if possible, replace old electronics with more energy-efficient ones. It is also just as important to make sure that your appliances, such as an air conditioner or refrigerator, are the right fit for your area or need as this can also affect your energy consumption.

Together with the improvements in the electricity bill design and these practical tips, every Filipino household is given the tools they need to manage their energy consumption.

For more energy-saving tips, you can check out Meralco's website. To know more about the new bill design, click here. You may also reach them through the residential hotline 16211, business hotline 16210, or email customercare@meralco.com.ph.