Solon warns: Eagerness to remove system loss charge may be misleading

Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenter5 hr. ago

Philippine Representative Mark Cojuangco warned lawmakers against misinterpreting system loss charges in electricity bills, arguing that some level of system loss is inherent due to operational realities, similar to heat generated by vehicle engines. He questioned whether removing these charges would unfairly burden taxi drivers who are allowed to charge for the full cost of fuel despite significant energy waste. Cojuangco emphasized the need for consumers to assess distribution utilities' efficiency against theoretical maximums. Meanwhile, APEC party-list representative Sergio Dagooc highlighted differences between electric cooperatives and investor-owned distribution utilities, noting that cooperatives lack the financial flexibility to absorb the impact of removing system loss charges. Energy Regulatory Commission chair Francis Juan supported Dagooc, warning that immediate removal could strain cooperative finances.

Bias read (Center): The article presents multiple perspectives without overtly favoring any side. While Cojuangco frames the issue as a potential misunderstanding, he does not advocate for maintaining system loss charges outright. Dagooc and Juan provide contrasting viewpoints on the economic implications for different