The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has begun opening its meetings to the public in a bid to increase transparency and educate consumers on how electricity rates are set, Chairperson Francis Juan said.
Juan, who presided over his first commission meeting last week, said the move is meant to give the public a clearer view of how decisions on power pricing and supply are made.
“We want to ensure transparency and also provide education to consumers on how their electricity bills are determined, and what issues we consider beyond rates, including ensuring a stable power supply as demand continues to rise,” Juan said in a public briefing on Friday.
The ERC chief acknowledged ongoing complaints about high electricity bills, noting that generation charges remain the biggest component of retail rates. He said ensuring real competition among power generators is key to lowering prices.
“To achieve competition, we need sufficient capacity. Investors must be able to build new plants to meet demand,” Juan said.
He added that the commission is also reviewing long-delayed rate resets for distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.
Distribution rates have not been revised for more than a decade, while cooperative rates have gone 15 years without review.
“This lack of revision leaves us uncertain whether current charges are excessive or insufficient,” Juan said.
Regarding the rate-setting process, Juan stated that the ERC is revising its rules for both private utilities and electric cooperatives to streamline proceedings and issue final decisions more efficiently.
The goal, he said, is to conclude hearings and rulings within a few months, ideally before utilities enter new regulatory periods.
The ERC is also working to ensure fair competition in power supply agreements, the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), and among retail electricity suppliers.
“Our role is to monitor whether competitive selection processes are truly followed and to guard against abuse of market power,” Juan said.
He added that the commission continues to issue licenses for retail electricity suppliers while monitoring their contracts to protect consumer rights in the contestable market.
