Senator Imee Marcos has joined other lawmakers in calling for amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), citing concerns over charges passed on to consumers.

She said the proposed changes aim to ease the burden on households already dealing with rising commodity prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

Marcos also urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct their own reviews of Manila Electric Company (Meralco)’s billing practices.

“This isn’t just about following the law; it’s a matter of compassion for the people,” Marcos stated. “In the middle of a crisis, it should be the big companies adjusting, not the consumers who are being bled dry by the high cost of electricity.”

The senator said Meralco’s generation charges are already high compared with other distribution utilities.

She added that these are further increased by “other ancillary charges, based on its ‘magical computations’,” which she claimed result in “double-charging.”

Marcos explained that when fuel prices rise or the peso weakens, electricity costs increase.

She said the system loss charge also rises automatically, even if actual losses in the system remain unchanged.

“It’s like you’re playing with the computation just to make the bills heavier,” the senator asserted. “The cost of electricity goes up once, but you charge us two or three times across different line items.”

She also questioned charges related to “standby power” that has not been used.

She said these charges are “slapped with a system loss charge,” adding that this is “overwhelming for families who are already struggling.”

Marcos made these remarks during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT).

The committee is reviewing the socioeconomic impact of the Middle East conflict, including rising oil prices, energy security concerns, and inflation risks.

Meanwhile, Meralco maintained that all charges in electricity bills are regulated and applied across the industry.

“Meralco, just like other electricity distributors across the country, operate under strict regulatory oversight that ensures all charges are lawful, transparent, and properly vetted. Every line item in your electricity bill has been approved before they are reflected and implemented,” said Joe R. Zaldarriaga during a press briefing.

“These are not new charges and they are not exclusive to Meralco as these are implemented by all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the country,” Zaldarriaga said.

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