Senator Risa Hontiveros has introduced a bill aimed at empowering the government to cap electricity rates, temporarily suspend power disconnections, and offer flexible payment terms to consumers during declared states of emergency or calamity.
Under Senate Bill No. 2361, which seeks to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), authorities would be authorized to set mandatory price ceilings on power rates during crises to buffer households and businesses against sudden rate hikes.
“Hindi dapat hayaang walang kontrol ang pagtaas ng singil sa kuryente lalo na sa panahon ng krisis,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Friday.
“Lahat apektado dito, 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 added.
The proposed legislation would prohibit power distribution utilities from disconnecting service for up to 90 days during a declared emergency. Additionally, utilities could be mandated to grant deferred payment schemes to residential consumers as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
To protect consumers disputing unusually high or erroneous power bills, SB 2361 allows them to temporarily pay their average monthly bill from the preceding three months while their complaints undergo review.
“Hindi dapat maging default policy na piliting magbayad ng buo ang konsyumer bago ma-resolve ang reklamo nila,” Hontiveros said, adding:
“During an emergency, the power must stay on and consumers must be treated fairly. No more collect first, review later practice.”
The bill also seeks to create an independent Consumer Advocacy Office under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to represent electric consumers in rate-setting, franchise hearings, and regulatory cases.