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Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged questionable surge in electricity bills being charged to consumers.
The Department of Energy (DOE), for its part, assured that it supports the move should the Senate proceed with an investigation into the matter.
This comes after a series of complaints from consumers over what they claim is an unexplainable spike in their electricity bills.
Hontiveros filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 509 to investigate the policies of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in connection with complaints of alleged erroneous computation in electric bills.
It was earlier reported that the ERC allegedly advised consumers to pay their bills first in order to avoid the possible disconnection of their electric service.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said the ERC has a mandate to protect consumers, but some of its current policies may be placing the burden on the very people it is supposed to protect, adding that these policies need to be reviewed and updated if necessary.
According to the senator, the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers should be clarified and amended so that consumers who receive erroneous or unjust charges will not be forced to pay just to avoid the inconvenience or disconnection of their electricity.
For its part, the ERC clarified that consumers are mistaken in understanding that they need to pay their bill in full first before they can file a complaint or seek a remedy for their disputed bill.
According to the agency, the statement of Atty. Maria Corazon Gines, "Pay bills to avoid disconnection," was taken out of context, as it only refers to a specific type of billing dispute and not to all cases.
The ERC also said it is not its policy to force all consumers to pay their questioned bill in full before they can ask for help or a remedy.
The agency added that the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers provides varying protections depending on the type and cause of the billing complaint.
The ERC also said there is a mechanism in place to prevent arbitrary disconnection while a consumer's complaint is being resolved or reviewed.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy, as the agency that oversees the country's energy sector, said it is ready to cooperate should the requested Senate investigation push through, to help review the issues on billing and consumer protection.
Secretary Sharon Garin of the Department of Energy said,
"We're very supportive of the probe, para makita rin at maintindihan rin ng mga tao kung tama ba o mali ba, and kung may mali din kaming policy or regulation that will also help us do better service to our constituents"
(so that people can also see and understand whether it is right or wrong, and if we also have any wrong policy or regulation).
According to Energy Secretary Garin, the investigation would help determine whether distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and other energy sector entities are complying with the ERC's policies and regulations.
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Date posted: July 14, 2026 5:05 PM