Senate scrutiny over rising electricity bills intensified as lawmakers moved to question subsidy systems, tax burdens, and billing practices that continue to push monthly power costs higher for consumers.
Senator Bam Aquino led the push for a legislative inquiry through Senate Resolution No. 375, seeking a review of the so-called “cross-subsidy” mechanism in electricity billing, where non-beneficiary households help shoulder the cost of discounts given to low-income consumers and other qualified sectors.
Aquino said the system adds an estimated P20 to P100 to monthly electricity bills of ordinary consumers, raising questions on fairness and transparency in how subsidies are funded.
“Mahalaga po yan yung tanong sino nagbabayad? And uh I filed for the Information of the body. I filed the resolution,” Aquino said in a Senate discussion.
He said the current method, which uses consumption levels to identify who shoulders subsidy costs, may be flawed and open for review.
“Kung maganda ho talaga yung targeting ng DSWD eh baka uh merong mga listahan na mas maayos na pwedeng magamit. Yung paggamit ho kasi ng consumption, you don’t really know diba,” he said.
Aquino stressed that assistance to poor households should continue but argued that funding should be shifted away from electricity bills and placed under the national budget to avoid burdening other consumers.
He also pointed to what he described as the “invisible” middle segment of society, who pay taxes but still carry additional costs through electricity bills.
Aquino said even the middle income segment continues to struggle with rising costs, arguing that many taxpayers still end up shouldering additional charges in their electricity bills.
Alongside the resolution, he is also pushing Senate Bill No. 670 or the “Kuryenteng Walang VAT Bill,” which seeks to remove the 12 percent value-added tax on electricity to ease household and business expenses.
In a separate statement, Senator Imee R. Marcos criticized rising power bills, calling the situation “bill shock” for consumers.
“Sa totoo lang, dapat makamura tayo, hindi mapapamura sa mahal!” Marcos said.
She questioned recent increases in generation charges, saying these should remain minimal given the country’s energy mix.
“Dapat ’yan nasa P0.50 hanggang P1.00 lang ang itataas across the board, hindi yung nangyayari ngayon na doble o triple ng nakaraang bill ang sinisingil!” she said.
Marcos also raised concerns over “systems loss” charges in electricity bills, urging tighter limits and warning that consumers should not carry costs meant for subsidy programs under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (RA 9136).
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