Power retailer Manila Electric Company (Meralco) assured its customers of its readiness to respond to any possible electricity service concern that may arise during the holiday break.
Meralco said in a statement its crews and personnel would be on standby 24/7 even on Christmas Day, to keep the lights on for its 8 million customers and help ensure a bright and accident-free celebration.
“We are reminding our customers to do their part in ensuring a bright and merry holiday season by practicing electrical safety. Rest assured, contingency measures are in place and our crews are on standby ready to respond to any concern on our electricity service,” Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.
Meralco also cited several electrical safety tips for the holiday season including unplugging Christmas lights and other appliances when not in use.
It reminded customers to inspect Christmas lights before reusing. For those who are re-using Christmas lights, check for cracked, frayed or damaged lights since these are potential fire hazards, it said.
Power users are advised to avoid using nails and thumb tacks when installing Christmas lights. Using nails, thumb tacks and wire staples can damage Christmas lights and create fire hazards. Use light hangers instead which are available in hardware and home stores, it said.
It warned against ‘octopus’ connections. Overloaded electrical outlets or extension cords is one of the most common causes of fire incidents.
Households should also have an available fire extinguisher at home in case of emergencies.
It said that while Meralco business centers are closed on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25), customers can still report power outages and other concerns to Meralco through its official social media accounts on Facebook and X formerly Twitter.
