MANILA, Philippines — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. urged yesterday the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to fast-track refunds and consider the suspension of value added tax amid summer power demand.
Garbin, through House Resolution 923, urged the ERC to tighten oversight of electricity pricing and expedite billions of pesos in refunds to consumers ahead of the summer months, when power demand typically rises.
In filing HR 923, he called on the ERC to “exercise strict and continuing scrutiny over how power generation companies price the electricity they produce” and to fast-track pending petitions involving refunds and alleged overcharging.
Garbin, a member of the House committee on energy, said delays in resolving these cases continue to burden electricity consumers.
“There are pending petitions involving claims for refunds and rebates arising from alleged overcharging and other regulatory issues, which remain unresolved and continue to affect electricity consumers,” he said in HR 923.
The resolution cited a petition filed in February 2025 alleging about P160 billion in overcharging, which remains unresolved, as well as previously ordered refunds amounting to P19.95 billion whose implementation status has yet to be publicly reported.
Garbin also warned of higher electricity costs during the summer months.
“The summer months of April and May typically result in increased electricity demand, raising the risk of supply constraints, higher generation costs and potential power outages,” he said.
To cushion the impact, the resolution urged concerned agencies to study temporary relief measures, including possible tax adjustments.
“Mitigating measures such as rebates, refunds, temporary reduction or suspension of value-added tax on electricity and reduction of import tariffs on bunker fuel may help cushion the impact of rising electricity costs on households and businesses,” Garbin said.