Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has underscored the need for policymakers to assess whether or not the current allocation of pass-through costs remains fair to consumers.

Diokno did so as he backed calls from labor and consumer groups to have Congress review the Manila Electric Company (Meralco)’s electricity pricing policies and determine whether or not existing charges are placing an undue burden on Filipino households already grappling with rising costs.

This call was made amid various reports of "electricity bill shocks" from consumers, who took to social media air their grievances.

Meralco, the country’s largest power distributor, has maintained that several charges appearing on customers' bills are pass-through costs mandated by law and not earnings for the company,

Speaking in a press conference led by Diokno, representatives from the Small Entrepreneur for Livelihood Development Association (SELDA), Sentro ng Nagkakaisang Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), and the Akbayan Green Working Group said over the weekend that lawmakers should ensure that power rates and related charges remain transparent, fair, and responsive to consumers' needs.

Diokno said Congress has a responsibility to examine whether current electricity rates and billing mechanisms remain equitable for consumers.

“This is about easing the burden on households and addressing a fundamental cost of living pressure,” he said.

“Electricity is not a luxury; it's a basic necessity, and our people deserve clarity, fairness, and accountability,” reckoned the lawyer-legislator.

Giovanni Apostol, spokesperson for the Bulacan-based SELDA, shared that some of their members were shocked when they received their April bill, with some going from an average of P1,000 to P2,300.

“These are people who spend their whole days walking and hawking their fares on the streets, and their only rest is at night. But they won’t even turn on their TV or electric fan for fear of high bills,” he said.

“And yet our April bills were more than double, because the various charges and taxes are higher than the actual price of our consumption.”

“What's even more sad is that most of them have completely lost their livelihoods. What about their children this coming school year? For us little performers, every peso is important to us,” he added.

The appeal also comes as consumers continue to contend with electricity rates that have remained above P14 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in recent months.

Meralco has said higher rates this June are driven by increased demand during the summer season and the impact of recent supply shortfalls.