Marcos: Gov't can intervene to prevent power rate hikes 

Following the declaration of a state of national energy emergency, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government can intervene to ensure that electricity rates will not spike. 

''Maaari nang makialam ang pamahalaan sa supply at presyo ng kuryente para hindi ito masyado magmahal dahil that's the authority that the EO and its declaration of energy emergency provides the executive,'' Marcos said in a press conference. 

(The government can already intervene with the supply and price of electricity so that the rates won't spike because that's the authority the EO provides the executive.) 

Marcos' Executive Order No. 110 directed and authorized the Department of Energy "to take appropriate measures to safeguard the stability and adequacy of the country's energy supply and mitigate the adverse effects of disruptions in global energy supply markets."

The electricity rates are expected to rise next month due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the peso's decline against the dollar, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (NASECORE) said if the projected increases are based on the additional cost, then the electricity rate cost may increase by P2 to P4, but that would only cover the supply given by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

It added that an additional P2 is equivalent to a P400 additional payment for households consuming 200 kilowatt hours.

The ERC said that it is issuing directives to electric utilities and generation suppliers to collect and increase charges on a staggered basis.—LDF, GMA Integrated News