MANILA — Consumers have welcomed the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) decision to suspend the collection of charges related to renewable energy projects for the next two months, a move seen as a temporary relief amid soaring electricity prices.
Two-Month Suspension of GEA-All
The ERC ordered the suspension of the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) for the May and June 2026 billing period. This decision comes just three days after consumer welfare group Kuryente.org filed a petition urging the agency to halt the GEA-All and the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) while the country is under a state of emergency due to the energy crisis.
The GEA-All is an additional charge of ₱0.0371 per kilowatt hour (kWh) imposed to finance renewable energy projects under the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP), including solar, wind, and hydro power. Meanwhile, the FIT-All tariff is another charge of ₱0.2011 per kWh paid to renewable energy producers.
Consumer Groups Applaud Decision
Bas Umali, National Coordinator for Kuryente.org, expressed satisfaction with the suspension. “Kami ay natutuwa sa two-month suspension ng koleksyon ng GEA-All dahil ito ay makakatulong kahit paano'y maibsan ang mataas na presyo,” he said, meaning “We are pleased with the two-month suspension of the collection of the GEA-All because this will help lower the high price of electricity.”
While praising the government's move, Umali emphasized that more measures are needed to ease the financial burden on consumers. He urged lawmakers to remove the 12% Value-added Tax (VAT) on electricity charges. “Ang pagbabawas ng iba pang bayarin kagaya ng VAT ay long-term solution na dapat i-prayoridad ng legislative body,” Umali added, which translates to “The removal of other charges such as the VAT will be a long-term solution that the legislative body should prioritize.”
The ERC's suspension is effective immediately for the May and June billing cycles, providing temporary relief to millions of Filipino households and businesses struggling with high energy costs.
