LAWMAKER BLAMES DELAYED REGULATORY APPROVALS FOR HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES, DEFENDS NGCP. By : Rommel Madrigal

LAWMAKER BLAMES DELAYED REGULATORY APPROVALS FOR HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES, DEFENDS NGCP

By : Rommel Madrigal 

A lawmaker has pointed to delayed regulatory approvals as a significant factor behind the rising electricity prices facing consumers, asserting that it is unjust to place the blame solely on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

APEC Partylist Representative Sergio Dagooc emphasized that the charges collected by NGCP represent only a small fraction of consumers' electric bills. He noted that generation and distribution costs account for 55% and 20%, respectively, while NGCP's share is merely 3%. “Focusing on NGCP will not effectively address the issue of high electricity prices,” he stated during a hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.

Dagooc questioned the practicality of targeting NGCP as a solution, suggesting that such an approach would not yield significant reductions in consumer bills. “What immediate measures can we take to lower costs? I don’t agree that focusing on NGCP will automatically reduce our bills since their contribution is minimal,” he remarked.

Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Sharon Garin acknowledged that some project delays are indeed linked to pending approvals from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), reinforcing Dagooc's concerns.

Dagooc also criticized the DOE for relying on the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) as a framework for identifying delays, stating, “If that’s the case for the review, it will definitely fail.”

Philreca Party-List Representative Presley De Jesus joined Dagooc in calling for a balanced perspective, underlining that the delays cannot be pinned solely on NGCP. “This is not solely the fault of NGCP. We’re not trying to defend them; we’re trying to level the playing field. The narrative suggests that NGCP is entirely to blame for the delays,” De Jesus added.

As discussions continue, lawmakers are advocating for a comprehensive approach to tackle the root causes of high electricity prices and project delays in the energy sector.