Manila Electric Co., the Philippines' largest power distributor, was ordered by the regulator to refund 9.5 billion pesos ($156 million) to customers for excess charges. The Energy Regulatory Commission determined that the utility collected amounts beyond approved rates during a specific billing period, affecting millions of residential and commercial users across its franchise area.

The refund stems from a regulatory review that found discrepancies between actual collections and authorized rate schedules. Manila Electric Co. must now develop a distribution plan to return the overcharged amounts to affected ratepayers, with the process expected to begin within the next quarter.

This decision marks one of the largest consumer refunds in Philippine utility history and underscores the regulator's commitment to enforcing rate compliance. The company has stated it will comply with the order while reviewing its billing systems to prevent future discrepancies.