Senate President Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the lack of regular fuel cost audits amid rising electricity generation charges, which have caused financial distress for many Filipino consumers.
“Rising generation charges and the lack of regular fuel cost audits reveal the urgent need for stronger accountability and transparency in the power generation sector to ensure that electricity is supplied at the least-cost manner,” Gatchalian said as he filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 581.
Gatchalian noted that from January 2025 to July 2026, the monthly electricity bill of a Meralco residential customer consuming 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) increased from about P2,350.00 at a rate of P11.74 per kWh to P2,970.00 at P14.83 per kWh, forcing households to pay an additional P620.00 each month despite consuming the same amount of electricity.
“These figures show that the country’s high electricity rates are largely driven by generation charges that are ultimately passed on to consumers,” he said.
Gatchalian noted that fuel costs, primarily from Meralco’s contracted supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal, accounted for 86.16% of the utility’s total generation charges in July 2026.
Gatchalian: Imbestigahan ang Kawalan ng Regular na Fuel Cost Audit sa Gitna ng Mataas na Singil sa Kuryente
Naghain si Senador Win Gatchalian ng isang resolusyon na naglalayong imbestigahan ang kawalan ng regular na fuel cost audit sa gitna ng tumataas na singil sa generation charges ng kuryente, na nagdudulot ng labis na pasanin sa maraming mga konsyumer.
“Ang tumataas na generation charges at ang kawalan ng regular na fuel cost audit ay nagpapakita lang na kailangan na ng mas malakas na pananagutan at transparency sa sektor ng power generation upang matiyak na ang kuryente ay naisusupply sa pinakamababang halaga,” ayon kay Gatchalian, sa paghahain niya ng Proposed Senate Resolution No. 581.
Binigyang-diin ni Gatchalian na mula Enero 2025 hanggang Hulyo 2026, ang buwanang singil sa kuryente ng isang residential customer ng Meralco na kumokonsumo ng 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) ay tumaas sa P2,970.00 sa rate na P14.83 bawat kWh mula sa humigit-kumulang P2,350.00 sa rate na P11.74 bawat kWh. Dahil dito, napipilitan ang mga konsyumer na magbayad ng karagdagang P620.00 buwan-buwan kahit pareho lang ang dami ng kuryenteng ginagamit nila.
“Ipinapakita lamang sa mga pigurang nabanggit na ang mataas na singil sa kuryente sa bansa ay pangunahing idinudulot ng mga generation charge na sa huli ay ipinapasa naman sa mga konsyumer,” aniya.
Inilahad din ni Gatchalian na ang halaga ng gasolina at langis, partikular na mula sa mga kontratang supply ng Meralco sa liquefied natural gas (LNG) at coal, ay 86.16% ng kabuuang generation charges ng kumpanya noong Hulyo 2026.
###
Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN
