Consumers Welcome PBBM’s Proposal to Slash Systems Loss Charges From Electricity Bill
Marcos said consumers should not pay for electricity lost in distribution, while Philreca warned removing recovery rules could strain rural cooperatives.
- During his 5th State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proposed removing system-loss charges and the 12% VAT from electricity bills, aiming to provide immediate relief to consumers amid high electricity costs.
- The current system, authorized under the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act, allows distribution utilities to recover technical losses and power pilferage from customers, a practice President Marcos labeled unfair to households and businesses.
- While Gerry Arances of the Power for People Coalition called the proposal "a good step," he noted that high fuel costs remain the biggest extra charge and demanded a broader energy policy overhaul.
- Meralco COO Ronnie Aperocho stated yesterday that the company welcomes discussion, noting reforms must ensure distribution utilities remain capable of investing in critical infrastructure to maintain reliable electricity service.
- Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Francis Saturnino Juan emphasized that Congress must first amend the EPIRA law, while Energy Secretary Sharon Garin noted the removal process could take about a year.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Pangilinan backs Epira amendment
SEN. Francis Pangilinan expressed his full support Tuesday for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s proposal to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).Marcos particularly wants the measure prohibiting the passing of system loss charges and the corresponding value-added tax (VAT) to consumers.Pangilinan is the author of Senate Bill 2124, or the VAT Exemption on Systems Loss Act for Residential Household Consumers, which aims to reduce…
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has urged a thorough discussion on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s proposal to eliminate the system loss charge from consumers’ electric bills, while calling for consideration of its possible impact on the operations and financial stability of power distribution utilities.
Consumers welcome PBBM’s proposal to slash systems loss charges from electricity bill
LINAMON, Lanao del Norte (MindaNews/28 July 2026)—The proposal to remove systems loss charges from the monthly electricity bill has consumers here heaving a sigh of relief. “If system loss charges will be removed from our monthly electric bill, this will be a relief to the economic burden of every consumer,” Ronnie Bomediano, a former Overseas Filipino Worker(OFW) in Saudi Arabia and a consumer of Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc., told …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
