LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Consumer advocacy group Power for People Coalition (P4P) is calling on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to implement an immediate “no-disconnection” policy. On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the group emphasized that cutting off electricity during a period of record-high heat indices and economic hardship is “plain cruel.”
The plea comes as the Philippines grapples with an energy crisis exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has sent global fuel prices soaring.
P4P convenor Gerry Arances highlighted how the conflict has directly impacted the costs of imported energy:
- Global Price Spikes: In the first month of the Middle East war, coal prices rose by 17%, gas by 91%, and oil by 37%.
- Projected Rate Hikes: These increases could translate to a hike of at least P5.00 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in generation costs for the Meralco franchise area in the coming months.
- Inflationary Pressure: Higher electricity costs are driving up the prices of basic commodities, potentially pushing up to 3.1 million Filipinos into poverty, according to data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
The coalition is urging the government and the Department of Energy (DOE) to take several protective measures:
- No-Disconnection Mandate: Prohibit power companies from cutting off service to consumers unable to pay their bills during the crisis.
- Flexible Payments: Implement mandatory grace periods and flexible payment schemes for outstanding balances.
- Halt Rate Increases: Stop all pending rate hikes and prohibit “pass-through” fuel costs that are currently being shouldered entirely by consumers.
- Investigation of Charges: Conduct a thorough probe into the “hidden” costs within the generation charge of electricity bills.
The P4P has launched an online petition on Change.org to gather public support for these measures. Arances stressed that the ERC has the authority to act independently. “The ERC… can already implement a no-disconnection policy without waiting for orders from the executive branch—an action it has taken in previous crises,” he said.
The group maintains that electricity should be treated as a vital public service rather than just a business, especially during times of national emergency. As Meralco consumers take to social media to voice their frustration over “bill shocks,” the pressure is mounting on regulators to provide a safety net for the country’s most vulnerable sectors.