Philippines overtakes Singapore for ASEAN’s highest electricity costs

The Philippines now has the highest residential electricity rate in Southeast Asia, overtaking Singapore.

The spike was recorded in the month of June alone, with the country’s PHP12.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) surpassing Singapore’s PHP12.34 per kWh. 

Meanwhile, some senators have moved to investigate soaring power costs and widespread complaints from consumers over electricity bills.

Philippines surpasses Singapore in June

The figures came from the Department of Energy during a media briefing on Monday, July 20. 

“We had the highest residential electricity rates in ASEAN, mainly due to the yellow alerts in Visayas brought about in turn by lack of electricity supply overall in the island group,” DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said, as reported by The Manila Times. 

She added that the increased electricity demand during the dry season forced power generators to rely on more expensive fuel sources, contributing to higher electricity prices.

The increase was particularly pronounced in the Visayas, where the Southern Leyte Electric Co-operative posted the country’s highest on-grid residential electricity rate at PHP16.57 per kWh, up 32 per cent from PHP12.53 per kWh last month. 

Manila Electric Co (Meralco), which serves Metro Manila and nearby provinces, also registered one of the higher residential rates at PHP14.48 per kWh.

Guevara also warned that renewed tensions in the Middle East could push fuel prices higher, saying the Philippines “might see an increase in the price of electricity” if global oil prices continue to rise.

“Similar to what happened in the past, we will be encouraging our distribution utilities to first use the cheaper fuel before using the more expensive fuel,” she said.

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Senators seek inquiry into power costs

The DOE’s latest figures came over a week after some senators filed separate resolutions calling for a Senate inquiry into rising electricity prices and consumer concerns over billing practices.

Senate Resolutions Nos. 508, 509 and 511, filed by Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Ping Lacson, seek to review the policies of the energy sector, strengthen consumer protection and examine complaints involving electricity bills and metre readings.

Aquino said the country’s persistently high electricity costs highlight the need for legislative reforms. 

On July 10, he cited data from GlobalPetrolPrices for the first quarter of 2026, which was reported by Asian Business Review on July 8.

The report showed that the Philippines ranked second to Singapore in residential electricity prices in Southeast Asia at about USD0.18 to USD0.21 per kWh.

“It’s time to investigate why the Philippines remains one of the countries with the highest costs of electricity in Southeast Asia and how we can reduce it,” Aquino said in Filipino. 

Hontiveros, meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.

She questioned the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) rules that require consumers to settle disputed electricity charges first before complaints are resolved, calling it “ironically unfair.”

“Why are consumers burdened with the responsibility to correct the wrong collection of payments from us?” she said.

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Consumer groups press for accountability

Lacson’s resolution also called for stronger transparency and accountability among power distributors.

His resolution came after complaints of “bill shock” from consumers and alleged irregularities in electricity metre readings.

He noted that Meralco’s residential rate rose from PHP13.2730 per kWh in January to PHP14.8261 per kWh in July.

Consumer groups under the Power for People Coalition likewise urged the ERC to audit Meralco’s billing practices and impose penalties if anomalies are found.

“The ERC was created to protect public interest. Consumers should not be treated as captive sources of revenue whenever fuel prices rise or generation costs increase,” said Aaron Pedrosa, lawyer and secretary-general of Sanlakas, as reported by the Philippine Star. 

The coalition also appealed to the ERC to extend its no-disconnection policy while the probes are in progress.

Meanwhile, the ERC said it had expected an increase in consumer complaints.

The commission had also repeatedly advised households to monitor their electricity consumption, with ERC Chair Francis Saturnino Juan saying power prices have been trending upward due to stronger demand, tighter supply and other factors.

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