The Manila Electric Co. and other privately owned distribution utilities (DUs) are excluded from a subsidy program for electricity consumers in rural areas, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) announced on Thursday.

The announcement came after Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said about 3 million “lifeline consumers” of electric cooperatives or those who consume less than 50 kilowatts an hour would no longer have to pay their March and April bills.