No power disconnections until October, says ERC

Electricity distributors have been ordered to suspend service disconnections for unpaid bills and offer staggered payment options as the State of National Energy Emergency remains in effect.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has extended consumer protection measures that suspend electricity service disconnections for unpaid bills and provide staggered payment options amid the country’s continuing State of National Energy Emergency.

In an advisory issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 110, the ERC said all distribution utilities (DUs) nationwide must continue implementing relief measures due to ongoing concerns over the stability of the country’s energy supply stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

Under the directive, electricity distributors in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are prohibited from disconnecting residential and non-residential consumers for non-payment of electricity bills covering the billing periods from August through October 2026.

The advisory also requires DUs to offer staggered or deferred payment schemes to help ease the financial burden on consumers.

Residential customers consuming 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or less per month may defer payment of their electricity bills for the covered period and settle the amount through equal monthly installments over at least three months from the date they receive their bill.

The ERC clarified that consumers who are financially capable of paying their bills in full are encouraged to do so despite the available relief measures.

An illustration included in the advisory showed that a consumer with deferred bills of ₱900 for August, ₱900 for September, and ₱1,200 for October may spread these payments over three months, with installments reflected in succeeding billing statements.

The commission also directed generation companies, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Independent Power Producer Administrators (IPPAs), and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market operator to extend the same staggered payment arrangement to distribution utilities.

Distribution utilities are likewise required to submit compliance reports to the ERC within 30 days after the end of the covered billing period, or on or before October 30, 2026.

Executive Order No. 110, signed on March 24, 2026, declared a State of National Energy Emergency following heightened risks to the country’s energy supply arising from the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

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