Why the need for a benchmark? Why is the benchmark March, 2020?

There is a very crucial need for a benchmark in order to avoid abuse. The benchmark should be your consumption at a time you did not know about any intention or plan of Government to absorb part of your electricity bills for a period of time so that it can give a fairly accurate and true picture of your regular consumption. Since the reliefs are to take effect from April 2020, and the announcement was only made in April, the use of the preceding month, March 2020 as the benchmark is most appropriate. Once your true (uninfluenced) monthly consumption is known, it will help determine or approximate your subsequent monthly consumptions (especially, during the duration of the relief).

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• Since March, 2020, is the benchmark, what happens to me if I suffer over-billing or under-billing in that month through no fault of mine?

  That will be an isolated case so it will be investigated on its own merit and the necessary adjustments (amendments) effected to allow for the corrected consumption figure to be used as the benchmark.

• Supposing I am able to conserve my electricity consumption in April, May and June, 2020 to the extent that it is lower than March, 2020, will I have less relief than the one due me as per March, 2020 benchmark?

  The relief will be full payment for lifeline customers and all other customers 50% of March, 2020 bill.

• What happens to me if my consumption in the period April, May and June, 2020 exceeds that of March, 2020?

  You would be given the full relief within the limits for each of the three (3) months if you are a lifeline customer and 50% of the March, 2020 bill amount for other customers as directed by the President. The March, 2020 bill is the benchmark.

• What happens to me if my consumption for March, 2020 fell drastically low because I traveled out of town in that month and did not use much electricity but I am back now?

  The Utilities will have no way of independently confirming your claim; conversely, if you had held some unusual social or even commercial functions in March, 2020 that ballooned your consumption in that benchmark month, the Utilities would not be ...

• What happens to me if I do not have any money to buy credits between now and May 01, 2020, the date the Utilities propose to commence implementation of the Presidential directives?

  It does not change anything. The benchmark is March, 2020.