Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate bill to remove system loss charges advances to floor debate
A measure seeking to eliminate system loss costs that electric utilities pass on to consumers has reached the Senate plenary for deliberation. The proposed legislation aims to provide relief to Filipino households facing rising power bills.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Senate advanced a bill on Tuesday that would remove system loss charges from consumer electricity bills, shifting the financial burden away from end-users.
Senate Bill No. 2486, formally titled the "Systems Loss Charge Removal Act," was presented to the chamber by Sen. Erwin Tulfo. The measure addresses the practice of electric providers passing system loss costs—expenses incurred during power transmission and distribution—directly to consumers through their monthly bills.
The push to eliminate these charges aligns with broader efforts by lawmakers to ease the financial pressure on Filipino households struggling with elevated electricity costs. System losses, which account for power lost in the distribution network, have become a contentious issue as utilities incorporate these expenses into consumer tariffs.
The bill's advancement to plenary marks a significant step in the legislative process, opening the measure to broader Senate scrutiny and debate. The proposal faces the next stages of committee deliberations and voting before it can proceed to the House of Representatives for consideration.