Determinants of Electric Bill Payment Delinquency among Residents of Kauswagan

Electricity is one of the basic needs of a man. Consumer behavior towards daily consumption of every household and the consumers’ attitude in matters of obligations are influenced by behavioural factors namely, personal, psychological, cultural and social. The Theory of Cognitive Consumer Behaviour Models supported this study. This aimed to identify the determinants of electric bill payment delinquency among residents of Barangay Kauswagan. The independent variables of this study are (1.) attitudes towards electric consumption, (2.) attitudes towards payment, and (3.) factors affecting delinquency. It also determines the influence of civil status, educational attainment, type of work, and monthly income on the aforementioned independent variables and determines the relationship between the attitude towards electric consumption, payment and factors affecting delinquency. Respondents were asked to answer the survey questionnaire. Using the quantitative and qualitative mixed method, this study used descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test and regression. The findings revealed that there was an influence of civil status as to the attitude towards electric payment as well as on factors affecting delinquency. It was also revealed that there was a relationship between the attitude towards electric consumption and payment. Therefore, educating residential consumers on energy efficient lifestyle and tariff structures, consistent advertisement on environmental awareness of electricity consumption, conducting seminars to households in Barangay in terms of prioritization of needs, proper handling of finances, advertising payment discounts for prompt payments, implementing reward system as part of collection strategy, and automated electricity bill payment programs to consumers to assure prompt payment are recommended.

Keywords: Determinants of payment delinquency, cognitive consumer behavior