By CESAR JOLITO III
A consumer advocacy group has raised alarm over the recent increase in electricity transmission charges, warning that the adjustment could further strain households already grappling with rising living costs.
In a statement, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) said the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval of higher transmission rates was driven largely by the recovery of past under-recoveries and an increase in the maximum allowable revenue of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
ACCESS President Wennie Sancho said the issue goes beyond the rate hike itself, pointing to what he described as a lack of proactive consumer education by power sector regulators and operators.
Sancho disclosed that ACCESS has written to ERC Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan, urging the commission to ensure clearer explanations of how “recovery and under-recovery” mechanisms work and how these directly affect monthly electricity bills.
“Many consumers do not fully understand why their bills suddenly go up,” Sancho said.
“This lack of clarity undermines trust and leaves households unprepared for increases that can force them to cut back on essential expenses or fall into debt,” he added.
According to ACCESS, the overall average transmission rate rose by 13.55 percent to P1.5279 per kilowatt-hour in February 2026.
The adjustment is intended to support grid strengthening and reliability projects, but Sancho stressed that its impact falls heaviest on marginalized sectors.
ACCESS is calling on the ERC, NGCP and the Department of Energy to jointly roll out sustained, accessible consumer education programs.
These should include plain-language explanations of transmission charges, recovery mechanisms, and consumer rights and responsibilities, ACCESS said.
“Electricity is a basic necessity, yet many Filipinos remain unaware of the ‘nitty-gritty’ behind their power bills,” Sancho said.
“Transparency and awareness are essential to protect consumers, especially during difficult economic times,” he added.
ACCESS also clarified that distribution utilities are not responsible for the latest transmission charge increase.
In Negros Occidental, the group noted that Negros Electric Power Corp. has no role in the ERC-approved transmission hike and has, in fact, implemented a substantial reduction in its distribution charges.
The consumer group said it hopes the latest rate adjustment will prompt regulators and industry players to reassess their approach, placing greater emphasis on public outreach and education to ensure that electricity consumers are fully informed and protected./CJ, WDJ