The Energy Regulatory Commission and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand consumer education/awareness on energy policies, electricity rates, and consumer rights.

The agreement, announced on April 22, aims to improve public understanding of energy regulation and encourage greater participation in regulatory processes.

Under the partnership, the PIA will assist the ERC in developing communication strategies, producing information, education, and communication materials, and thus expanding the reach of consumer education initiatives nationwide. These efforts will focus on key areas such as electricity pricing, energy policies, and consumer rights.

For its part, the ERC will provide technical resource persons for knowledge-sharing sessions, briefings, and press conferences to help explain and simplify complex energy concepts and regulatory processes for the public.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Francis Saturnino C. Juan emphasized the importance of making energy regulation more accessible.

“While energy regulation is highly technical, its effects are profoundly felt in everyday life,” Juan said. “For regulation to genuinely benefit the public, it must first be comprehensible to them.”

He added that access to information empowers consumers to actively engage in discussions and support reforms in the energy sector.

“When people have access to information, they gain the power to exercise their rights, engage effectively in discussions, and support reforms that ensure everyone has access to dependable, cost-effective, and sustainable electricity,” Juan said.

The partnership also includes capacity-building support from the PIA through resource speakers, media coverage, and the cross-posting of major ERC announcements that are subject to agency guidelines and available resources.

The ERC said the collaboration supports its broader reform agenda anchored on transparency, accountability, and consumer protection, while also reflecting a whole-of-government approach to public communication.

How important is it for consumers to better understand how electricity rates are set and regulated?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.