Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to impose higher fines on transmission operators, distribution utilities, and generation companies to help bring down power costs.
“If we have a strong regulator, bababa ang presyo ng kuryente,” Gatchalian said during a Senate energy hearing.
The senator cited the P15-million penalty imposed on NGCP for 34 delayed projects in 2024, despite earning P17 billion in profits.
“Obviously, the penalty is not commensurate with the size of the transmission operator,” he said, warning that such delays cause brownouts and higher electricity rates.
Under his proposal, ERC will be allowed to impose stiffer penalties, with part of the fines used to reduce consumers’ power bills.IMT
