The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has extended key consumer protection rules for the country’s electricity sector through to the end of October 2026, moving past the original end-of-month deadline. Announced in an advisory on Thursday, the directive requires all distribution utilities nationwide to suspend service disconnection for both residential and non-residential customers for unpaid bills covering August to October this year.
Alongside the disconnection moratorium, utilities must offer flexible payment arrangements to ease financial pressure on households and businesses. Consumers using up to 200 kilowatt hours monthly may defer bill payments for at least three months, though the ERC noted that those who can settle their accounts in full remain encouraged to do so. The rules also apply to generation firms, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, National Power Corporation, National Transmission Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, independent power producers, their administrators, and the electricity market operator, who must match these flexible terms when dealing directly with distribution utilities.
Distribution providers will need to separate collected payments and settle dues to generation firms on a staggered schedule of no less than three months. All affected utilities must submit proof of compliance with these new requirements within 30 days. ERC chairman Francis Saturnino Juan stated the extension aims to shield consumers from the strain of rising power generation costs, ensuring people do not lose access to electricity while managing higher expenses.
