ROME (AP) — Four decades after the Chernobyl disaster spewed radiation across Europe and turned Italy off nuclear power, Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government is laying the groundwork to bring it back as the country seeks to improve its energy security. The government is counting on a new...
Consumers and lawmakers cheered the SONA pledge to scrap system loss charges as if Christmas had come early with a gift-wrapped power discount. But electricity has a wicked sense of humor: erase the line item today, and the cost may quietly return tomorrow wearing a different name. After all, no...
PXP Energy Corp., the upstream oil and gas explorer led by billionaire Manuel V. Pangilinan, is seeking foreign partners to help fund and execute energy exploration projects in the Philippines, including a search for naturally occurring hydrogen. In an ambush interview last week, Pangilinan said...
Households face higher electricity bills starting in 2027 under the proposal by state-owned National Transmission Corp. (Transco) to raise the uniform line-item charge that subsidizes renewable energy developers. TransCo petitioned the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to increase the Feed-in...
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the largest power distributor in the country, assured full compliance with the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) order to credit ₱9.51 billion back to its customer base. “Meralco supports initiatives of the government to provide relief to consumers and ensure...
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, August 2 expressed confidence that the measure seeking to remove system loss charges, as well as the value-added tax (VAT), from electricity bills would be approved before Christmas or the end of this year. “I can actually see the legislation moving...
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) was ordered by energy regulators to refund ₱9.51 billion to its customer base after collecting unauthorized charges. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed the country’s largest power distributor to return an average rate of ₱0.3449 per kilowatt-hour...
The Office of the Ombudsman sought a preliminary investigation of Senator Loren Legarda and her son Batangas 1st distict Rep. Leandro Leviste for plunder and graft over alleged abuse of legislative and regulatory powers in securing solar energy contracts, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying”...
President Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) failed to mention the climate crisis, destructive mining, and communities threatened by the continued expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, a Roman Catholic bishop pointed out on Thursday, July 30. “President Ferdinand Marcos Jr....
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers are set to save nearly ₱5 billion through the end of the year after the country’s largest power distributor secured lower rates under an extended supply contract with the First Gas Sta. Rita plant. Jose Ronald Valles, Meralco head of regulatory affairs,...
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the power utility is open to acquiring a stake in geothermal producer Energy Development Corp. (EDC) if the asset is formally placed on the market. Pangilinan noted that investing in the Lopez-led geothermal firm could significantly...
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earned widespread public approval when he declared in his fifth State of the Nation Address that consumers should no longer pay the system loss charge on their electricity bills. His reasoning was straightforward. Electricity lost before it reaches homes and...