ERC: ‘Full impact’ of Middle East conflict on electricity prices to be felt April, May

Electricity consumers in the country should brace for the “full impact” of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on power bills in the coming months, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said Wednesday.

“Sa susunod na buwan inaasahan natin ang full impact nung nakikita nating pagtataas sa singil sa presyo ng langis, coal, at natural gas na nakadepende ang malaking bahagi ng ating supply,” ERC chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan said in an interview on GMA Integrated News’ Balitanghali.

(We are expecting the full impact of the anticipated increase in the prices of petroleum, coal, and natural gas, where a huge portion of our power supply is dependent, next month.)

Apart from the impact of higher fuel costs, the spike in electricity prices might also be aggravated by the seasonal increase in demand during the hot dry months of April and May, according to the ERC chief.

“Magkakasabay siya kaya inaasahin natin na magiging malaki ang pagsipa sa presyo ng kuryente,” Juan said.

(They will coincide, that is why we are expecting a significant spike in the prices of electricity.)

The ERC chief said that the power industry regulator will intervene if the increase in electricity prices is too exorbitant.

“Maari naman mag intervene ang ERC kung sakaling talagang magiging napakalaki ng pagtaas ng singil na ipapatutupad ay gagawan natin ng paraan para makapagpatupad ng pag uutay-utay o staggering recovery ang utilities,” he said.

(The ERC might intervene if ever the increase will be too extreme. We will be implementing staggered recovery for utilities.)

In an interview on Unang Hirit On Record, Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, a former Energy secretary, advised the public to do fuel and energy efficiency practices.

“During times of crisis, nothing is normal. So kung sinasabi natin mag-four days work tayo, mag-carpooling tayo, kung pupwede, sumakay tayo ng public transport, magtipid tayo. It's because we have a crisis. So, ang pwede natin gawin, magtulung-tulungan tayo at this point in time,” Petilla said.

“Anything that we can do to reduce consumption of oil, including kung nagbabalak ka bumili ng kotse, baka pwede mo tingnan yung electric vehicle. Sabi nila, tataas ang kuryente ko. Ang pagtaas ng kuryente is maliit compared sa pagtaas ng langis,” the former Energy chief said. —RF, GMA Integrated News