By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Seeking to protect Filipino consumers from relentless electricity price increases during times of crisis, Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill authorizing the President to temporarily cap electricity rates in areas placed under a state of emergency or calamity.
Senate Bill No. 2361, filed on July 29, proposes amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to provide the government with broader authority to intervene when extraordinary events trigger sharp increases in electricity costs.
The proposed measure would allow the President, upon the recommendation of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), to impose a temporary ceiling on electricity rates in areas affected by national emergencies, calamities, or other crises that threaten energy stability.
Hontiveros said the legislation seeks to ease the financial burden on Filipino households already grappling with escalating prices of basic commodities and essential services.
“Electricity rates should not be allowed to rise unchecked, especially during times of crisis. Everyone is affected by this. Even middle-income families are already struggling with the cost of food, transportation, medicine, and other basic needs. They should not be forced to absorb one power-rate increase after another,” she said.
The senator filed the proposal as the country continues to feel the impact of higher global energy prices following the national energy emergency declared in March amid supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. The Philippines likewise recorded the highest residential electricity rates among ASEAN countries in June, fueling renewed calls for stronger consumer protection measures.
Apart from empowering the government to impose emergency price caps, the bill seeks to prohibit distribution utilities from disconnecting residential electricity service for up to 90 days during a declared emergency or calamity.
Power distributors would also be required to provide staggered payment arrangements, giving consumers more flexibility in settling their electricity bills while recovering from the effects of disasters or other crises.
The proposed legislation further protects consumers contesting their electricity bills by preventing service disconnection while complaints are being resolved by distribution utilities or the ERC, provided the consumer pays under protest an amount equivalent to the average of the previous three monthly billing cycles.
To strengthen consumer representation, the bill likewise seeks the creation of an independent Consumer Affairs Office that would exclusively handle complaints, promote consumer welfare, and ensure that electricity users have a dedicated body to address grievances against industry players.
Hontiveros said the measure is designed to put an end to practices that leave consumers vulnerable during emergencies.
“Requiring consumers to pay the full amount before their complaints are resolved should not be the default policy. During an emergency, the power must stay on and consumers must be treated fairly. No more ‘collect first, review later’ practice,” she said.
The proposed measure now awaits Senate deliberations, where lawmakers are expected to weigh its potential impact on the country’s power sector. If enacted, the bill would give the government a stronger legal mechanism to cushion consumers from sudden electricity price spikes while reinforcing safeguards that ensure continuous power service during national emergencies.
ia/xf
