Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — As the country continues to face a national energy emergency, Filipino households are grappling with higher electricity bills in the city. In the provinces, the problem is even greater, as the National Power Corporation (Napocor) has confirmed that island electric generators are facing fuel budget constraints amid the high heat index and high fuel prices.Fifty-year-old Babes Fernandez struggles to make ends meet as her electricity bill now reaches P2,300 from before, which only cost P900.Because of the hot weather, she has to use an electric fan, especially as her 83-year-old mother struggles with high blood pressure. “Kailangan talaga may magamit na hangin kasi si nanay matanda na, tayo nga mga bata kung nainitan kailangan natin ng electric fan… Lahat naman tumataas eh pati yung gasolina tumataas din di ba?” Fernandez said.<div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/24/meralco-other-charges-on-electric-bills-mandated-by-government-1211">Meralco: Other charges on electric bills mandated by government </a></div>Her husband is a tricycle driver, who is also affected by high prices of fuel.Meanwhile, households in the provinces are not only dealing with high electricity bills but also recurring power interruptions. The Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) confirmed that it has implemented rotational power interruptions as it struggles to meet the high electricity demand during summer, while transitioning from subsidized emergency power to a regular power contract. “That is a normal condition naman. Even sa lahat ng service provider sa coverage area nila, nagkakaroon naman talaga ng interruption,” ORMECO General Manager Engineer Humprey Dolor said.   “Kapag pumapasok na yung regular contract, utay-utay na umaalis yung emergency power…kaya ngayon, nagkakaroon ng kakulangan sa supply because yung demand naman natin eh hindi naman nagbago. Aside from the fact na talaga naman pag summer, ay walang hydropower at saka walang wind power,” he added.Napocor has confirmed that island generators currently face higher fuel consumption and fuel budget constraints brought about by high prices of fuel.“Sa operations namin sa National Power Corporation, yung mga isla po na inooperate namin, ang napansin po namin merong about 5-6% increase ng konsumo ng fuel dahil sa mga heating rate. Meron kaming nakukuha rin information tungkol doon na nahihirapan po yung mga island generators sa mga privado na hirap makakuha ng fuel dahil sa budget. Hindi dahil sa kakulangan ng fuel pero dahil sa mga budget constraints,” Napocor President and CEO Jericho Nograles said.To address this, Napocor said they are in close coordination with the Department of Energy and the Philippine National Oil Company to see if preferential fuel rates for electric cooperatives will be possible.  ORMECO welcomed this possible solution.  “Yes, yes, definitely. Kung hindi nila itataas…  Kung subsidized kami plus yung renewable namin, mas ma-okay sa amin. At least hindi na magulo. Hindi na kami flexible, hindi na variable ang aming mga presyo,” Dolor said. “Ang dapat lang, ang kailangan lang makapag-provide ng extra budget si (Napocor) para kasi sa tdaas ng demand, mahal ang fuel, madodoble o triple ang kanilang requirement for budget for the subsidy,” he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/24/solar-panel-project-helps-communities-nationwide-1219">Solar panel project helps communities nationwide </a></div> Meanwhile, to help ease the energy emergency, the Department of Energy announced the ONE (Oras Natin sa Efficiency) Hour initiative that calls on Filipinos to turn off lights and nonessential electric appliances from 8-9pm every Saturday. “Inaasahan natin bababa yung ating konsumo at yun nga, nagtutulong-tulungan tayo para ma-extend yung ating existing supply. So, ulitin ko po ito, inaanyayahan namin kayong sumali sa one oras natin sa efficiency ngayon pong kada Sabado, alas 8 hanggang alas 9 ng gabi,” DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino said. But as ordinary Filipino households continue to face high electricity costs and power interruptions, Fernandez is calling for higher wages to help ease the burden.holf “Isa lang po solusyon diyan, kung gusto nila itaas lahat ng presyo lahat ng pangangailangan naytin, taasan din nila sweldon natin. Kasi po kung maliit ang sweldo, mattas ang bilihin hindi po kakayanin,” she said.

As the country continues to face a national energy emergency, Filipino households are grappling with higher electricity bills in the city.

As the country continues to face a national energy emergency, Filipino households are grappling with higher electricity bills in the city.

Energy emergency drives up electricity bills, triggers outages in provinces

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Energy emergency drives up electricity bills, triggers outages in provinces

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 25, 2026 04:22 PM PHT

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Updated April 25, 2026 04:46 PM PHT

Read More:

National Energy Emergency

Brownout

Fuel Prices

Power outages

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