Despite the celebratory mood during the holidays, consumer groups shared with Nosy Tarsee a wish following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) directive to bar power disconnections.

While the move, as part of the one-year state of calamity issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was appreciated, they said the best regulatory option would be to suspend all electricity bill increases.

ERC should embody the spirit of giving by extending its no-power disconnection order and issuing a moratorium on electricity rate increases while communities recover during the state of calamity, according to a consumer rights and energy advocacy group.

The severe damage caused by typhoons “Tino” and “Uwan” in November casts a heavy shadow over this Christmas, a season of great importance to Filipino families.

Electricity rate hikes is not consistent with a year-long state of national calamity when burdens to consumers should be lessened.

“The holidays are the one season that Filipino consumers strive to spend festively after toiling all year but it is dampened by billion-peso flood control scams and ever-increasing costs of basic goods, including electricity. Rate hikes and disconnections at this time only hamper the recovery of typhoon-swept communities,” Gerry Arances, convenor of Power for People Coalition (P4P) said.

“ERC must ensure that prices for electricity do not soar even higher during this state of calamity. Increases in electricity costs mean skipped meals and less finances to rehabilitate consumers’ homes and livelihoods,” he added.

The group said the bar on disconnection should remain in effect throughout the declared state of calamity, which will last until 6 November next year.

The regulatory body was also urged to expand its order on the provision of staggered payment mechanisms, which are currently limited to households consuming up to 100 kilowatt-hours per month.

While the order is a reprieve to lifeline users and low-consumption households, it is not reflective of the national average of 200 kilowatthour (kWh) monthly, according to the group. Limiting the order to merely keeping electric lines alive signifies a disconnect from the realities that Filipinos live daily.