Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to exempt households consuming 150 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or less per month from value added tax (VAT) on electricity, citing growing “bill shock” due to rising power rates.
Under Senate Bill No. 2093 or the proposed Kuryente Relief Act, Hontiveros said the measure could reduce monthly electricity bills by around P250 to P300 for low- to lower-middle income households considered “energy poor.”
The exemption will be automatically reflected in consumers’ billing statements without the need for application, she added.
Hontiveros noted that many families, especially those in Metro Manila earning minimum wage, typically consume around 100 to 150 kWh monthly due to limited appliance use and minimal air-conditioning.
She said existing support measures like lifeline rates offer only limited relief, as they cover the most marginalized sectors, while her proposal would extend benefits to more households within the set consumption threshold.
“Ngayong sumisipa sa taas ang singil ng kuryente, pati middle income families ay nahihirapan na sa bayad sa kuryente. Our tax and energy policies should be more fair and adapt to this concerning reality,” Hontiveros said.IMT
