The Department of Energy deserves credit for taking a long-overdue step toward making electricity bills fairer: removing non-technical system losses from what ordinary consumers are required to pay. For too long, households and businesses that faithfully pay their bills have effectively been made...
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has stepped up efforts to strengthen the conviction rate of those involved in cases of theft and pilferage of electricity distribution facilities and materials. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said he already tasked police commanders across the...
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is ramping up infrastructure investments and cracking down on illegal connections as part of its multi-pronged strategy to drive down system losses that drive up consumer electricity bills. In a statement on Sunday, Aug. 16, Larry Fernandez, Meralco head of utility...
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has directed immediate corrective measures to fix recurring spikes in line rental charges in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), moving to lower electricity costs for consumers in the Visayas affected by transmission constraints. In a statement on...
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has filed two measures seeking to reduce electricity costs by prohibiting non-technical system loss charges on electric bills and exempting system loss from value-added tax (VAT). In filing House Bill No. 10677 or the "Non-Technical System...
ZAMBOANGA CITY- The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has placed the Mindanao grid under yellow alert status on Tuesday, August 11 after its operating margin failed to provide sufficient power to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirements. The grid was placed on...
Motorists and businesses are set to receive relief this week as local retail fuel prices record significant declines, driven by lower international benchmark costs and a stronger local currency. Effective Aug. 11, local pump prices for gasoline will decline by ₱4.70 per liter, diesel by ₱4.30...
APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc has blasted the Department of Energy (DOE) as well as the power generation sector over the "insulting" misnomer that is "line rental". In a hearing of the House Committee on Energy on Wednesday, Aug. 5, Dagooc called out DOE officials and told them to revisit its...
Amid the continued grid alerts in the region, consumers in Visayas may see lower power bills this month following a decline in wholesale spot market prices, according to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP). In a media briefing on Thursday, Aug. 6, IEMOP vice...
House members sought clarification on the highly technical nature of system loss on Wednesday, Aug. 6 as the Committee on Energy held its first hearing to discuss issues and concerns surrounding the proposed abolition of system loss charges from electricity bills. Pangasinan 2nd district Rep. Mark...
The Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) is demanding a formal role in the ongoing review of the country’s landmark power legislation, arguing that a quarter-century of regulation must be updated to align with modern engineering standards while safeguarding...
Top leaders from the House of Representatives have filed a measure seeking to exempt electricity consumers from paying the 12 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the much-panned system loss charges. Filed by Senior Deputy Speaker South Cotabato Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez and...
