Seal is Intact.... But Fake?

On March 17, a new group of Meralco inspectors and/or personnel came over to work on the transferring of all electric meters in our place to a nearby electric post. Part of the ‘new procedure’, as what was previously told us, was to have all meters be replaced with a digital one.

However, it eventually gave us an impression that everything was a ploy to simply justify their motive. None of the replacements were digital. They replaced the units with, still, the mechanical ones.

The personnel removed the old meters. Separately stored them in a plastic bag. Labeled, sealed and instructed us to report on the 24th of March for the testing to be done in Meralco’s Meter Testing Laboratory in Ortigas. So this afternoon, I personally went to see and witness the testing to our old electric meter. It was meant to check if the meter was really tampered or not.

Once there, I was readily attended to by very accommodating personnel. Everything needed for the testing were prepared. Then I was called. The one who’ll do the testing introduced himself to me. A representative from the Energy Regulating Commission was also present to serve as the other witness.

Immediately after removing the plastic cover of our old electric meter, they checked the seal. The tester readily called the attention of several people there. Bringing with him the meter and showing off to several other people. I was puzzled. I didn’t know what was happening since they were talking in ‘silent mode’, I could hardly hear any.

When he went back, he told me that he was conferring with them the physical status of the meter’s seal. Apparently, and this is really confusing, the seal is INTACT but they declared it as FAKE because there was a ‘fresh cut’ found at the tip-end of the seal.

Having this ‘finding’ already, the tester proceeded with the actual testing of the meter. He told me that the normal result yields 100Kwh, but the ERC can give a +20 or -20 allowance. Meaning, if it gives out an 80-120Kwh result, it is still deemed normal. Our meter testing result is 100.6Kwh, very much normal. It’s now about the seal.

I was trying to raise oppositions but the ERC representative told me that it wasn’t the proper venue. The meter tester only acted on what was specifically written in the form that was submitted to them, which was to verify the seal. I was told that I will be given a letter within 5-7 days about the findings. Then I should bring this up with the branch office. If all talks fail, then I can bring the matter to ERC and present our side.

On my way out of the room, I cant help but feel that some sinister people out there will not really give up on us. They will really try to find a way to put the blame on us since they couldn’t come out with a solid hard physical evidence that will prove our guilt of committing a violation against Meralco.

They are now trying to get us through technicality…

I simply cannot fathom how easily can they come out with a conclusion that the seal was fake when they themselves admit that it was very much intact. It still have the markings of both ERC and Meralco in it. And the only basis was the supposedly ‘fresh cut’ found at the tip-end of the seal. Simply unbelievable!

I can sure bet my life that no one has touched that meter except the Meralco inspectors and personnel only. From the moment it was installed up to the time VIC ACOT practically toyed with it last Oct 9, 2008 and when it was pulled out last March 16, 2009, only the good hands of Meralco personnel have touched it.

I could only wonder but no longer surprised.