Manila: Senator Risa Hontiveros announced her proposal for a measure that grants the President the authority to impose a temporary price ceiling on electricity rates during declared states of emergency or calamity. This initiative is intended to strengthen consumer protections as households face increasing power costs.
According to Philippines News Agency, the proposal is encapsulated in Senate Bill No. 2361, which aims to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA). The bill allows the President, upon recommendations from the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission, to enforce a mandatory electricity price cap for up to 90 days during an energy emergency or calamity. This intervention is designed to prevent consumers from experiencing significant increases in electricity bills.
The bill references the State of National Energy Emergency declared on March 24 and highlights the ongoing rise in electricity prices. Senator Hontiveros emphasized the necessity of controlling electricity rate increases, particularly in times of crisis, as they impact all households, including middle-income families struggling with the cost of living.
The proposed price cap is intended as a direct measure to manage electricity costs influenced by external factors during emergencies. In addition to the price ceiling, the bill includes a 90-day moratorium on electricity disconnections and allows for deferred payment schemes for residential consumers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It also permits consumers contesting high bills to pay only their average electricity cost from the previous three months while disputes are resolved.
Furthermore, Hontiveros suggested the establishment of an independent Consumer Advocacy Office under the Department of Trade and Industry. This office would represent consumer interests in ERC rate cases, franchise proceedings, and other regulatory matters related to electricity prices and services.
The senator reiterated that electricity is an essential service and stressed that the measure seeks to offer immediate relief to Filipino families struggling with rising monthly power bills.
