Energy regulation often happens out of public view, yet its effects are felt by every household and business. In our recent conversation on Power Podcast, Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), described why transparency is not a peripheral ideal—but a core reform tool for rebuilding trust in the power sector.

For Juan, opening the ERC’s processes to public view is about strengthening accountability, improving understanding, and modernizing how regulation works in a fast-evolving energy landscape.

Opening the doors to real deliberations

Juan explained that while the ERC had previously held open commission meetings, these sessions often focused on non-contentious matters, offering little insight into how decisions were actually made.

“What’s the use of having an open commission meeting if no one will learn?” Juan said, explaining his decision to allow all kinds of cases—even those under deliberation—to be livestreamed.

By opening discussions on real cases, Juan believes the public can better understand the reasoning behind regulatory actions, from capital expenditure approvals to rate-related petitions. Transparency, in this sense, becomes a bridge between technical decision-making and public comprehension.

Transparency with an education purpose

For Juan, openness is not about spectacle. It is about education. Allowing stakeholders to see how evidence is weighed and arguments are tested helps demystify regulation—especially when decisions are complex or unpopular.

“There’s an education value,” he said, referring to open deliberations. “People should know what these cases are about.”

This approach, he argued, helps counter misinformation and reduces the perception that regulatory outcomes are arbitrary. When the process is visible, decisions—even difficult ones—are easier to explain and defend.

From paper-heavy to data-driven regulation

Beyond open meetings, Juan highlighted the need to modernize the ERC’s records and data systems. While the commission receives extensive information through filings and compliance submissions, much of it is not yet used to its full potential.

“We receive all this information, but nothing happens to it,” Juan said. “We don’t mine the data to guide future decisions.”

His vision is for a more digital, organized, and analytical ERC, where data supports long-term planning, policy analysis, and coordination with other government agencies. Modernizing records, he noted, would allow the commission to move from reactive decision-making to a more strategic, evidence-based approach.

Building predictability through openness

Juan also linked transparency to predictability, a key concern for both consumers and industry players. When processes are clear and deliberations visible, stakeholders gain confidence that rules are applied consistently.

By showing how decisions are reached—rather than simply announcing outcomes—the ERC can reinforce its role as a fair and impartial regulator. Over time, Juan believes this openness strengthens institutional credibility and reduces friction between the commission, regulated entities, and the public.

Transparency as institutional reform

Throughout the discussion, Juan framed transparency not as a communications strategy, but as institutional reform. Open meetings, clear processes, and data-driven systems, he said, are foundational to a regulator that can keep pace with the country’s growing energy needs.

As the Philippines navigates rising demand and an increasingly complex power mix, the ERC’s willingness to operate in the open may prove just as important as the rules it enforces.

How can greater transparency in regulation improve public trust and decision-making in the country’s power sector?

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You can catch the full episode on our official Youtube channel!