MANILA ELECTRIC CO. (Meralco) said Tuesday that the pending extension of the lifeline power rate subsidy will have no effect on the distribution utility, as the subsidy is paid for by all consumers. On Monday, the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill that extended the lifeline subsidy rate for households consuming less than 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per month. If passed into law, the extension will run until 2031. “Regarding the lifeline rate subsidy extension, Meralco will defer to the wisdom of the legislators. While the scheme benefits households who cannot afford to pay the full cost of electric service, their discounts are funded by other customers who have to shoulder the rate add-ons,” according to a quote provided by Meralco’s media relations office via Viber Tuesday, attributed to both the company’s Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga and Meralco Head of Utility Economics Lawrence S. Fernandez.