Escudero files bill to prevent power firms from passing system loss to consumers

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero has filed a bill prohibiting the recovery of system loss charges from electricity consumers by amending existing laws and make electricity more affordable for Filipino households.Senate Bill 2345 amends Republic Act (RA) 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira), which currently allows distribution utilities to recover a portion of system losses incurred in the delivery of electricity.Escudero said the continued imposition of these charges "has become increasingly difficult to justify," noting that consumers "neither control nor contribute to the technical condition of the grid, nor are responsible for losses arising from inefficient operations, outdated infrastructure or electricity theft."Under the proposed amendment, distribution utilities will no longer be allowed to pass on costs arising from technical inefficiencies or electricity pilferage to end‑users."Consumers should pay only for the electricity they actually consume," Escudero said in his explanatory note, adding that the bill "promotes fairness in electricity pricing, encourages greater operational efficiency among distribution utilities, strengthens consumer protection, and contributes to the broader objective of making electricity more affordable for every Filipino."