A Meralco new connection for a typical home with a 2 to 3kW applied load needs a ₱2,510 bill deposit, a set of ID and ownership papers, and five steps that end with a meter on your wall. That deposit figure comes from Meralco's own fee table, and the steps below follow the company's New Service Applications page, last updated in September 2026.
This guide covers a permanent residential service in the Meralco franchise area. Business accounts, temporary construction power and loads above 5kW have extra rules, noted where they matter.
Paano mag apply ng kuryente sa Meralco?
In short: prepare the documents, apply online through My Meralco or at a Meralco Business Center, let Meralco inspect the house, have an electrician build the service entrance, then sign the contract, submit the CFEI and pay the bill deposit. Meralco installs the meter after that. The sections below explain each part.
Meralco new connection requirements
Meralco's new service checklist asks for five things:
- Application form, filled out online or at a Business Center.
- Valid ID. Meralco's FAQ asks for one valid ID from the applicant, plus an authorization letter and additional IDs if a representative applies for you.
- Proof of ownership or occupancy.
- Load schedule or electrical plan. This lists the appliances and outlets the house will power, in kilowatts (kW). Meralco calls the total your "applied load".
- Authorization letter, only when someone files for you.
Which IDs does Meralco accept?
The new service page lists these government-issued IDs: Barangay Certificate with picture, signature and dry seal, COMELEC Voter's ID, Driver's License, Firearm's License ID, GSIS ID, IBP ID, NBI Clearance, Philippine Passport, PhilHealth ID, POEA Artist Record Book, Police Clearance, Postal ID, PRC License ID, Senior Citizen ID, TIN ID and UMID.
The Start or Modify Service FAQ carries a slightly different list. It adds the SSS ID, older GSIS, PhilHealth, SSS, TIN and Voter's IDs, and "any other Philippine (either local or national) or foreign government-issued ID with picture and signature". If your ID is on neither list, ask Meralco before you file.
Proof of occupancy documents
Owners can use any one of these, according to Meralco: a Transfer Certificate of Title, Condominium Certificate of Title, Tax Declaration, Deed of Conditional Sale, Contract to Sell, Certificate of Sale, Deed of Donation, Lease Purchase Agreement, an NHA Certification, or a Certificate of Award or Notice/Order from a national government agency.
Tenants have two listed options: the original Authority to Move-In, or the original NHA Certification from the Censused Potential.
The 5 steps, from application to energization
Meralco splits a new connection into five stages:
- Application. Submit the form and documents through My Meralco (app or website), a Meralco Business Center, or a certified contractor. Meralco then checks the papers.
- Evaluation. Meralco inspects the house. It checks that the home facilities are complete (a toilet and bath, a kitchen), that the wiring is complete, and how far the house is from the nearest Meralco facility. It then gives you a yellow card, which you use to get a Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) from your city or municipal hall.
- Installation. Buy a meter socket at the nearest Business Center. A certified contractor or your electrician installs the service entrance (the wires and fittings from the pole connection to your meter), using the yellow card as a guide. Tell Meralco when it is done; Meralco then inspects and approves it.
- Completion. Submit the CFEI and other documents, sign the contract, and pay the bill deposit at a Business Center, through My Meralco, or at Bayad Centers.
- Energization. Meralco installs the meter and switches on the service. You or your authorized representative must be there.
The FAQ adds that Meralco performs a final inspection before it installs the meter, and that the CFEI comes from the city's Building Administrator's Office or City Engineering Office.
Applying online through My Meralco
You do not need an account. Meralco's FAQ gives this path for guests on the website: go to My Meralco, choose "Continue as Guest", open "And more", then "Request a Service", then "Apply for New Electric Service". In the app, the guest path is "Continue as Guest", "Add more", "Request a Service", then the same final button. Account holders log in and go to Accounts (web), then "Apply for New Electric Service". In the app, they log in, tap Menu, then "Request a Service", then "Apply for New Electric Service".
According to the same FAQ, you cannot cancel or change an application online once it is in. For that, contact Meralco by Facebook Messenger, at customercare@meralco.com.ph, or on the 24/7 hotline (02) 16211.
Signing the contract on your phone
For applied loads under 40kW, which covers ordinary homes, the contract (the "Orange Form") appears in the My Meralco app after Meralco approves your service entrance, Meralco says. You tick an acknowledgment box and submit; that serves as your digital signature, and you get a PDF copy by email.
LGUs that partner with Meralco on its electronic CFEI project send the certificate to Meralco online. If your LGU still issues a printed CFEI, Meralco says it must be sealed before you submit it at a Business Center.
Meralco new connection fee: how much is the bill deposit?
The bill deposit is a guarantee for your future bills, similar to a rental deposit. Meralco sets it at about one month's estimated bill, based on your applied load. Its published table for residential use:
| Applied load | Residential bill deposit |
|---|---|
| Up to 1.00kW | ₱810 |
| Over 1.00kW to 1.50kW | ₱1,220 |
| Over 1.50kW to 2.00kW | ₱1,620 |
| Over 2.00kW to 3.00kW | ₱2,510 |
| Over 3.00kW to 4.00kW | ₱3,450 |
| Over 4.00kW to 5.00kW | ₱4,580 |
Above 5kW, a Meralco representative computes the deposit. Meralco's FAQ says the deposit earns 0.25% interest, as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and may be adjusted yearly under its Annual Update of Bill Deposit program.
Two other charges can apply:
- Cash advance, only when Meralco must add poles, lines or a transformer to reach you. Meralco computes it after inspection and sends a Cash Advance letter. It is refundable.
- Installation and removal cost, only for temporary connections such as construction power. It is not refundable.
Getting the bill deposit back
You do not have to wait until you move out. Since May 2026, Meralco automatically credits the deposit and its interest to the bill of residential customers who paid on or before the due date for two straight years, and of customers with a 100% Lifeline discount. No documents are needed. The deposit is charged again, at your average monthly bill for the past 12 months, if you later pay late or lose the 100% Lifeline discount.
Should you hire a certified contractor?
Meralco says regulation bars it from installing the wiring inside your premises, so that work is yours. You can hire any licensed electrician, or a Private Electrical Contractor Certified by Meralco (PECCBM). These contractors are licensed by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board and can handle permits, poles and the service entrance. Meralco lists their starting prices:
| PECCBM package | What it covers | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Full Bundle | Everything, from documents to the service entrance | ₱9,500 |
| Technical Bundle | Planning and building the service entrance | ₱6,200 |
| Documentary Bundle | Permits and certificates such as the CFEI | ₱2,500 |
By our math, using Meralco's published figures, a 2.5kW home that takes the Full Bundle pays at least ₱12,010 up front: ₱9,500 for the contractor plus the ₱2,510 deposit. That excludes the meter socket and any LGU fees, which Meralco's pages do not price.
Meralco notes that these contractors are not its employees or agents, and that it is not responsible for your deal with them. Get a written quote before you pay.
How long does a new connection take?
Meralco does not publish a fixed number of days. It agrees a target date with you on an "Agreed Target Energization Date" form, according to its FAQ on energization timelines. The biggest factor is whether existing lines can serve your house:
- Ordinary Service Application: existing Meralco facilities are enough, so only the service drop and meter are installed. This is the faster path.
- Project-Covered Application: Meralco must design and build new poles, lines or a transformer first.
Meralco decides which one applies after its inspection. Your side of the timeline is getting the documents, the service entrance and the CFEI done; Meralco only energizes once those are complete.
Where to apply in person
Meralco's Business Center directory lists 52 centers across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas and Quezon. Once your service is live, you can track usage with our guide to checking your Meralco bill online and settle it through the options in how to pay your Meralco bill online.
