MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo has sought a Senate investigation into recurring electricity “bill shocks,” saying consumers deserve protection from soaring power costs, inaccurate billing and unreliable service.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate committee on energy, filed Senate Resolution 535 directing the Senate to examine the repeated spikes in electricity bills and identify reforms that would ensure fair and transparent power rates.
The senator said complaints from households and businesses continue to mount over sudden increases in electricity charges, confusing billing statements, erroneous meter readings and recurring power interruptions.
He stressed that while distribution utilities and power generation companies have the right to recover legitimate operating costs and finance investments needed to maintain reliable service, consumers are equally entitled to fair, transparent and accurate electricity charges, as well as an efficient system for resolving complaints.
Tulfo said the inquiry aims not only to determine the causes of recurring bill shocks but also to craft long-term, consumer-oriented policies to address the country’s power pricing issues.
He also noted that the Philippines continues to have one of the highest electricity rates in Southeast Asia, making rising power costs an added burden on consumers already struggling with stagnant wages and the increasing cost of living.
“We will determine how to stabilize or lower this high price of electricity and make it affordable for Filipinos,” Tulfo said.
He added that access to electricity should be treated as a basic necessity and that Filipinos deserve reasonable and transparent power rates.