The Department of Energy (DOE) has reminded beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to register with their respective distribution utilities (DUs) to continue receiving discounts or electricity charges.

In a statement Friday, DOE said those who will fail to enlist their names with their DUs will no longer receive lifeline consumer discounts starting in August.

“Based on the data provided by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to the DOE, only 1,816 consumers out of 24 million 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide have applied for the lifeline program as of 10 July 2023,” it said.

The DOE said only 31 DUs nationwide have received lifelines program applicants while 110 DUs have not received any single application as of the same date.

“The subsidy is provided under Republic Act No. 11552, or an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate, Amending the Purpose Section 73 of RA 1396, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA),” it added.

The law extends the electricity rate discounts to 4Ps beneficiaries for 50 years.

The DOE said the subsidized rates are provided to low-income customers consuming below 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity monthly and cannot afford to pay their bills at full cost. (PNA)