Filipino families and businesses may soon get relief from skyrocketing electricity bills as the Senate Committee on Energy gathered government agencies, industry leaders, and consumer advocacy groups to address unfair power fees on August 13. 

The panel focused on fixing gaps in outdated energy rules and reducing system loss charges to make power prices fairer across the country.

The committee wants to lower monthly bills while keeping the energy sector stable and running. 

System loss charges refer to electricity lost during transmission, through technical failures, or via power theft. 

Current policies allow companies to pass these extra costs directly to everyday consumers, causing monthly electric bills to jump significantly.

Presiding over the hearing, Sen. Erwin Tulfo pushed hard for quick policy reforms to safeguard consumers from high rates. 

He noted that members of the Senate share the belief that electricity “has become too heavy a burden for many Filipino families and businesses.” 

His statement highlighted the urgent need to update industry regulations that currently leave customers paying for wasted power.

While Tulfo recognized the technical limits of electricity delivery, he insisted that the financial weight must shift away from the public. 

“It is not that easy to do away with system loss… We understand that some degree of system loss are inherent to the delivery of electricity… But the fact that the loss occurs does not automatically mean the consumers should pay it,” Tulfo said. 

The committee will continue working on new legislation to shield households from unreasonable charges.

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