“When a company owns one precise thought in the consumer’s mind, it sets the context for everything and there should be no distinction between brand, product, service, and experience.” –Maurice Saatchi
Back in May 1993, when the Panay Electric Company (PECO) was applying for a 25-year extension of its franchise before the Iloilo City Council, among the demands by the committees on public services, environmental protection, and ecology; and transportation, energy, and public utilities was to install an accurate meter reading system, initially brought up by the power utility upper echelons during public hearings.
PECO was grilled for several weeks by City Councilors German Gonzalez, Achilles Plagata, Rolando Dabao, Eduardo Laczi, and Perla Zulueta. Among the issues raised surrounding PECO were “astronomical” distribution and generation fees and the “lack” of a proper meter reading system.
Parties eventually agreed a meter reading system was necessary in order to provide accurate readings and avoid overcharging.
Approve
The city council approved the franchise extension which, under the law, still required congressional authorization.
24 years later, City Councilor Joshua Alim submitted a formal resolution requesting PECO establish a meter reading card system, saying it would avoid confusion and complaints regarding consumption.
Consumption
According to the ordinance, the system helps consumers appraise their monthly consumption, compare previous readings, and, if necessary, file complaints if there are discrepancies.
The ordinance has since been referred to the committee on transportation, energy, and public utilities, chaired by City Councilor R. Leone Gerochi.
Meanwhile, PECO has reportedly disclosed it is already looking to improving its metering system through the use of an automated metering infrastructure (AMI).
“All readings are programmed to go directly to the computers of PECO without any actual meter readers needed on the field,” said PECO corporate communications officer Mikel Afzelius. “This eliminates the human factor in meter reading and customers can fully rely on the accuracy of the billing.”
The first 1,000 “smart meters” will be installed this April 2017./WDJ