One Year in BBM Presidency: Electricity Consumers Still Wanting

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One year into the second Marcos presidency, electricity consumers remain wanting for the realization of the president’s promise in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) ang “Pangarap Nyo ay Pangarap ko” for electricity consumers. The first year of Bongbong Marcos’ presidency witnessed the accelerated suffering of electricity consumers not only from high electricity prices but also from intermittent blackouts due to continued neglect and inefficiency of our electricity grid.

Roland Vibal, national coordinator for Kuryente.org, said:

“Although we commend the Marcos administration’s effort to promote renewable energy by fast-tracking its green energy program, there is still much to be done to lower our households’ electricity cost. With the current high cost of living, the continued high price of electricity is an added burden for electricity consumers whose monthly income is way below the government's estimated ideal living wage of P1,500/day for a family of six. Every presidency has promised to ease electricity consumers’ burden yet most failed as it continues to neglect or indecisively address the cause of the problem.”

Vibal said that for Kuryente.org, lower electricity prices can be realized by decisively addressing the four main causes of high electricity rates in the country, namely by:

● Reviewing our current mix of energy sources. The continuing uncertainty of imported fuels as Ukraine – Russia conflict drag should motivate us to end our addiction to imported and costly fuels and focus our attention on cheaper and more reliable sources.

● Reducing the country’s transmission and distribution losses. It is high time that the Energy Regulatory Commission review the national grid code and conducts a technical audit. More so, Congress should evaluate and review the franchise of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines since it has failed to deliver its promise to provide a reliable, efficient and sustainable grid for the country.

● Reviewing the current tax regime for electricity should also be done to unburden our electricity price with high taxation. Our tax on electricity is relatively high, and worse, consumers are also taxed from system losses and subsidies. High electricity taxation is an added burden and should be reviewed and rethought, especially in this period of high uncertainty.

● Discussing and trilaterally resolving policies related to electricity rates and contracts not only between governments and power corporations but with electricity consumers as well to ensure that fairness and reasonableness of all decisions are in line with the interests of government, investors and consumers alike.

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