WHILE the Philippines has only two seasons — wet and dry — we usually associate the dry season’s historically intense heat with summer.
And every summer, as if adjusting to the weather, many of us get irritated or angry easily, especially when we see triggering things on social media.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed complaints on electricity bills — mindless screenshots and comments sections filled with outrage. The negative sentiment is amplified by posts designed to generate engagement, attract attention or simply provoke anger.
What often gets lost in the conversation is the simple reality that electricity bills are driven not only by rates, but also by consumption, which in turn is affected by the weather.
Throughout April and May 2026, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) repeatedly warned of dangerous heat index levels across the country, with some areas reaching as high as 46 degrees Celsius. Pagasa classifies heat indices from 42 C to 51 C as “danger” levels because prolonged exposure can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
These are not ordinary weather conditions. When temperatures and humidity reach such levels, people naturally seek relief in cooler areas — in their air-conditioned homes or in commercial establishments like malls. Naturally, cooling appliances run longer and more frequently, and appliances with compressors work harder to maintain internal temperatures. In turn, they consume more electricity because they are constantly fighting against hotter ambient conditions.
This explains why even without adding a new appliance, a household’s electricity consumption can rise significantly during periods of extreme heat. In other words, the hotter it gets outside, the harder our appliances have to work inside.
And this is something many consumers fail to acknowledge so they resort to rants and anger toward electric utilities.
Last May, Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga announced a reduction in residential electricity rates of P0.0151 per kilowatt-hour. He clearly explained that since there’s a rate decrease, albeit modest, some households could still receive higher bills because of increase in consumption — again, likely driven by the intense heat we experienced the past several weeks.
I’m not saying that consumers should simply accept higher bills without question but for us to have a more rational discussion, we should understand what the numbers are actually telling us.
Joe holds an unenviable job, and it’s not easy because really, part of the challenge is psychological. Electricity is one of the few household necessities that we consume first and pay for later. We enjoy the comfort of air-conditioning, fans, refrigeration and other conveniences throughout the month, but we only see the total cost once the bill arrives. By then, the consumption has already happened.
Personally, I was also shocked to see my bill, particularly in April and May. But upon receiving them, I looked at the historical consumption chart that Meralco included in the electricity bills (very helpful, by the way). It calmed me down knowing that my consumption, even when it increased, still looked typical compared with the previous month and last year. And I know for a fact that this year is actually much hotter.
Many are surprised to discover that their consumption increased despite having the same appliances. But when ambient temperatures remain significantly higher than normal for weeks at a time, even unchanged lifestyles can result in higher electricity usage.
Here’s the thing: While social media rewards outrage and algorithms elevate content that generates anger and engagement, electricity bills cannot be explained through screenshots and viral captions alone.
Before sharing a complaint, check the facts and look at the rates. Examine the weather conditions and review the consumption history on your bill.
We cannot control the heat index and the temperature outside our homes. But we can understand our consumption patterns, make informed decisions and use electricity more efficiently. We have the power over our consumption and that is far more empowering than any rage-bait post on social media.
