ERC Sets 2026 Agenda to Protect Consumers and Accelerate Renewable Energy Reforms

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is setting its strategic agenda for 2026, focusing on strengthening consumer protection, modernizing regulatory processes, clearing case backlogs, and fostering a more competitive electric power industry to boost investor confidence.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan said the Commission’s direction under the “New ERC” framework is anchored on transparency, stronger public engagement, and a renewed commitment to consumer welfare.

“As the ERC moves into 2026, our goal is to build a future-ready Commission that delivers people-centered service,” Juan said.

He outlined five key priorities for the coming year: fair and evidence-based rate setting, timely resolution of pending cases, robust market oversight, the creation of a stable and enhanced regulatory environment, and proactive, consumer-focused leadership.

In line with these goals, the ERC plans to enforce least-cost obligations, complete long-delayed regulatory resets for distribution utilities, and establish pricing frameworks for emerging technologies such as offshore wind and liquefied natural gas. The Commission will also streamline hearings and internal processes, while ensuring compliance with the Energy Virtual One-Stop-Shop (EVOSS) and Ease of Doing Business (EODB) laws to accelerate case resolutions.

Market rules and technical standards will be updated to accommodate new technologies, while approvals for utility investments, Power Supply Agreements (PSAs), and renewable energy (RE) projects will be expedited.

Juan reiterated that consumer welfare remains central to the Commission’s mandate. “Transparency, consumer protection, and fairness are the pillars of our work,” he said.

To this end, the ERC plans to expand subsidies for lifeline consumers and senior citizens, strengthen consumer rights under the Magna Carta for Consumers of Electricity, improve metering and net-metering rules, and coordinate with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure the fair application of value-added tax (VAT) and subsidies.

The Commission also emphasized the role of public awareness in ensuring a healthy energy market, noting that accurate reporting and informed consumers help build trust in regulatory institutions and support the delivery of reliable, fair, and affordable electricity.

The ERC regulates an electricity industry valued at around Php 4.13 trillion, encompassing generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and market operations nationwide. The Commission said effective compliance, governance, and disciplined execution are critical, given the sector’s role in powering hospitals, industries, schools, households, and the digital economy.