You may apply for a new residential electric service through the following Meralco channels:
- Online www.meralco.com.ph/apply-now
- Call Center Hotline (02) 16211
- Business Centers (Click here for a list of the offices.)
Applying for a new electric service is fast, easy, and convenient. Follow these steps:
- Submit the following requirements:
- Accomplished Application Form (www.meralco.com.ph/apply-now)
- 1 Valid ID (Click here for a list of accepted IDs.)
- Electrical Plan or Electrical Load Requirement
- Occupancy Documents (e.g. TCT, Click here for a list of occupancy documents.)
*For Representatives: Authorization Letter & Additional IDs are required.
- Schedule for an on-site inspection. We will conduct an on-site inspection of the availability of facilities and condition of the customer premises being applied for.
- Begin construction of your service entrance. Customers will acquire the meter socket from the nearest Meralco business center to be used in the installation of the service entrance. A duly-licensed electrician, contractor, or an electrical expert Certified by Meralco (CBM) is expected to construct the service entrance for a safe, technical-compliant, and hassle-free installation.
- Sign electric service contract, pay bill deposit, and submit Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) at the nearest Meralco business center.
- Electric Service Contract is signed by the customer.
- Bill Deposit is computed based on the electrical plan or electrical load requirement (Click here for the bill deposit amount table.)
- Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) is acquired at the City’s Building Administrator’s Office or City Engineering’s Office.
- Service energization. We will perform a final inspection before installation of meter. It is required that the customer or a representative is available on-site during service energization.
To ease your application for a new residential electric service, you may avail the services of a Certified by Meralco (CBM) contractor
The following are the fees for a new electric service:
- Bill Deposit
The bill deposit is an amount required from all customers of all distribution utilities as a guarantee for the payment of electric bills. It may be likened to the advance deposit made by a tenant for the rental of residence or office space. The bill deposit amount corresponds to an estimated average 1-month bill, which is computed based on the electric load requirement submitted during service application.The following table summarizes the bill deposit amounts for residential use:Applied Load (AL) Bracket Residential Use AL <= 1.00KW) Php 810.00 <1.00KW < AL <= 1.50KW Php 1,220.00 1.00KW < AL <= 1.50KW Php 1,220.00 1.50KW < AL <= 2.00KW Php 1,620.00 2.00KW < AL <= 3.00K Php 2,510.00 3.00KW < AL <= 4.00KW Php 3,450.00 4.00KW < AL <= 5.00KW Php 4,580.00
* Applications with more than 5KW of applied load need to be computed and formalized by a Meralco representative.
Please note that the bill deposit amount may be adjusted yearly to reflect the close average monthly bill of the customer. The adjustment mechanism is covered by Meralco’s Annual Update of Bill Deposit (AUBD) program.
The bill deposit earns an interest of 0.25% as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). It may also be refunded after the completion of a request for service termination. The bill deposit is an amount required from all customers of all distribution utilities as a guarantee for the payment of electric bills. It may be likened to the advance deposit made by a tenant for the rental of residence or office space. The bill deposit amount corresponds to an estimated average 1-month bill, which is computed based on the electric load requirement submitted during service application. The following table summarizes the bill deposit amounts for residential use: - Cash Advance (as Required)
Cash Advance Fee is based on the additional Meralco facilities that are required to be installed to energize the premises. This includes the cost of primary power lines, poles, transformers, and other accessories that support the installation. The fee will be computed based on the customer’s required facilities following Meralco’s inspection and initial design of the electric service installation. Meralco officially provides the computation through a Cash Advance letter to the customer.
Similar to the bill deposit, the cash advance fee is refundable - Installation & Removal (IR) Costs (for Temporary Connections, as Required)
Installation & Removal (IR) Costs, which are unique to temporary connections, are based on the temporary facilities that are required to be installed and eventually removed upon energization of a permanent service. This includes the partial cost of poles, primary power lines, transformers, and other accessories that will be installed, as well as the cost of retirement of these facilities. Meralco officially provides the computation through an Installation & Removal (IR) Cost letter to the customer.
Unlike bill deposit and cash advance, the IR cost is non-refundable.
Meralco ensures that applications for electric service are energized professionally, safely, and on time as agreed with the customer through the Agreed Target Energization Date form.
There are however several factors that affect energization timelines:
- Service Application Type and Design Complexity
In general, Ordinary Service Applications (OSA) or applications which only require the installation of service drop or meter are easier to complete than Project-Covered Applications (PCA) or applications which require to undergo a design process and installation of additional Meralco facilities, such as poles and transformers.
You may click this link for a discussion on service application types.
- Meralco Time and Customer Time
For safety, Meralco will only energize the application for electric service upon the customer’s completion of the necessary documentary and technical requirements. Based on the condition of the application, the customers may be required to submit additional documents, such as technical permits and right-of-way.
You may click this link for a full list of documentary and technical requirements.
Simply put, there are 2 types of wires which must be installed to a typical residence in order to connect its premises to Meralco facilities.
Lineside wires may be considered as the upstream component and pertain to the overhead wires from the Meralco poles, to the drip loop, to the connections terminating at the customer’s meter socket. Meralco is in charge of these installations as part of the service application process.
Loadside wires may be considered as the downstream component and comprise of the wires connecting the meter socket to the circuit breaker to the wire installation inside the customer’s premises; and are considered as customer’s property. During the service application process, customers are required to complete the installation of loadside wires as part of the technical requirements. Customers may acquire the services of trusted electricians and contractors, such as Certified by Meralco (CBM) contactors in the completion of this technical requirement.
Since Meralco is restricted by regulation to facilitate wire installation inside your premises or loadside wires, it created an avenue where customers can select from reliable and dependable suppliers. Customers can tap CBM contractors, which are composed of energy service providers, contractors, developers, and designers, to assist with technical requirements before we energize your premises.
Trusted electricians and contractors engage in continuous training for professional service delivery to its customers. Certified by Meralco contractors specifically engage in several programs facilitated by Meralco to aid the needs of our customers. These include technical training programs, alignment of technical standards, and customer service.
Though Meralco organizes the training and accreditation programs of these contractors, they are in no way legally connected with Meralco. Meralco remains as a third-party entity between the agreements of the contractor and the availing customer. Meralco however presents to the customers both supplier and service package options for competitive and best-price offerings.
A typical residential household would not need a 3-phase service. However, some houses with special equipment with 3-phase ratings will require a 3-phase service. Typical 3-phase equipment are as follows: swimming pool pumps, large centralized air-conditioning units, commercial-grade chillers, and elevators. The equipment will not function without the appropriate phase requirement.
We advise you to consult your electrical contractor or a Certified by Meralco (CBM) contractor to have a proper discussion of this technical requirement.