World · Philippines Bureau
Tulfo warns power firms against exploiting Super El Niño conditions
Senator Erwin Tulfo has cautioned electricity providers against leveraging extreme weather to impose unjustified rate increases or compromise service quality. The lawmaker emphasized that while rate adjustments tied to supply-demand shifts are acceptable, any hikes must remain fair and proportionate.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo issued a stern warning to power companies on Wednesday, urging them to refrain from exploiting the ongoing "Super El Niño" phenomenon to impose excessive charges or reduce service standards to consumers.
In a statement, Tulfo acknowledged that rate adjustments are a normal market response to fluctuations in supply and demand dynamics during periods of extreme weather. However, he stressed that any price increases must be justified, reasonable, and calibrated to avoid compounding hardship for Filipino households already struggling with rising living costs.
"Power companies have a responsibility to balance their operational needs with the welfare of consumers," Tulfo said. The senator called on the energy sector to maintain service quality during the dry season while ensuring that rate structures remain transparent and defensible to regulators and the public.
The warning comes as the country faces intensified drought conditions associated with the strong El Niño pattern, which typically reduces hydroelectric generation capacity and increases reliance on more expensive thermal power plants. Consumer groups have expressed concerns that utilities may use these constraints as justification for steep tariff adjustments.