MANUFACTURERS of prepaid electric meters have swarmed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for certification ahead of the country’s shift to these billing devices.
Francis Saturnino Juan, ERC executive director, said the regulator is reviewing the application of 10 manufacturers from the United States, China and South Africa.

“We are issuing certificates of approval on these prepaid meters to make sure that they are compliant with the international standards,” he said.

The ERC had given the go-signal to 19 electric meter brands following its approval of prepaid electricity service in 2009.

The scheme would allow consumers to control their electricity consumption and expenses in the same way they use prepaid services for telecommunications.

Gloria Victoria-Yap, ERC commissioner, said the regulator is weighing the formation of a joint technical committee to thresh out possible wrinkles to the implementation of prepaid electricity service.

Recently, executives of Julong Electric Power Co. of Shanghai and Xesi Energy Systems Inc. met to discuss prepaid electricity service in the Philippines.

Xesi and Julong, together with Symstream Technology Group of Australia, Wireless Services Asia Inc. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. had developed a mobile or text-based system for prepaid supply of electricity.

The system has undergone a pilot run in 10 electric cooperatives, one of which, Batangas Electric Cooperative I, filed an application before the ERC for its full implementation. The utility is the first in the industry to push for prepaid services.