Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to audit fuel pass-through charges, warning that rising fuel prices could further increase electricity costs for Filipino consumers.
He said the ERC should verify whether fuel costs passed on by power generators and distribution utilities are justified, reasonable, le and based on actual market and purchase prices.
The Philippines recorded the highest average residential electricity rate in Southeast Asia in June at ₱12.43 per kWh, according to the Department of Energy.
Gatchalian noted that generation charges account for about 60 percent of electricity bills, while fuel comprised 86.16 percent of Manila Electric Co.’s total generation charges in July 2026.
He said a household consuming 200 kWh monthly saw its electricity bill rise by about ₱620, from ₱2,350 in January 2025 to ₱2,970 in July 2026.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 16, 2026
