The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said consumers would felt higher electricity rate in the coming months following the US-Israel war against Iran.

ERC chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan said 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,

“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,” Juan said.

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, 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.