ASSISTANT Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal has called for an inquiry into whether the charges passed on by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to its consumers are “fair and equitable.”
Nazal filed House Resolution 976 in response to complaints from Meralco customers about the seemingly large increases in their electricity bills in recent months.The resolution seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the power distributor’s electricity rates, pass-through charges and related practices.“Currently, electricity is becoming more expensive, and the system is increasingly hard to understand. In April 2026, the electricity charges rose again. But more alarming than the price increase is what our fellow citizens discover when they closely examine their bills,” Nazal said in a recent privilege speech.He further added that consumers discovered they are paying not just for what they actually use, but for the entire system in which the power sector now operates.All the charges collected by Meralco as reflected in the monthly electricity bill resulted from Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, or Epira.Nazal said that instead of promoting transparency and efficiency, the charges have become “so layered and technical that the ordinary Filipino can no longer fully understand what he or she is paying for.”“Consumers can no longer fully understand what the charges on their Meralco bills mean and why the rates continue to rise even when there is no change in their consumption,” Nazal added.He pointed out that consumers pay several charges: generation, transmission, distribution, ancillary service and market fees, system loss, universal charges, renewable energy, the lifeline subsidy, and system loss taxes and subsidies.Nazal said that he, like every other Meralco customer, is asking for clarity, accountability and fairness in what is collected from them every month.He also said that Meralco will be directed to disclose and explain every aspect of its operations and how it computes its charges.The Commission on Audit will be asked to conduct or assist in conducting a comprehensive audit or special review of Meralco’s allowable expenses, asset valuation, collections, utilization of funds and refund obligations.The Energy Regulatory Commission, on the other hand, has been urged to “exercise utmost caution in approving any rate increases or adjustments that may further burden consumers without full verification or underlying costs.”“What our citizens are asking for is not to be burdened more than what is fair. In the end, this is not about numbers. This is about the Filipino family looking at their bill and wondering if they can still manage for the next month,” Nazal said.
