Leyte: Leyte's Provincial Board has called for immediate government intervention to address rising electricity costs in the province, citing increasing Line Loss and Congestion Costs (LLCC) that continue to inflate consumers' monthly power bills.

According to Philippines News Agency, Leyte 1st District Board Member Wilson Uy authored a resolution urging the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas and national energy agencies to take immediate action to ease the financial burden on electricity consumers. The resolution specifically calls on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) to expedite the release of Net Settlement Surplus Allocation (NSSA) flow-back refunds to consumers.

The resolution also seeks reforms in the country's electricity pricing mechanisms to ensure that consumers are not made to shoulder additional costs resulting from transmission grid constraints and congestion. The measure noted that persistent congestion in the transmission network has contributed to higher LLCC, which is reflected in electricity bills paid by households and businesses.

'Addressing these charges would help protect consumers from unnecessary costs while promoting a fairer and more efficient power market,' Uy said in a statement on Friday. He added that the resolution highlights the provincial government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of residents of Leyte by advocating policies that would reduce electricity costs and improve the overall efficiency of the country's power system.