President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing for lower electricity bills by removing system loss charges and making solar energy easier to access. In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, he asked Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 to stop utilities from passing system losses (power lost in transmission or theft) to consumers. These charges are currently taxed with VAT, adding more cost to household bills.
Marcos stressed that reforms are needed to make electricity fair and affordable. The Department of Energy supported his call, saying modern grids and better infrastructure should reduce losses instead of charging them to the public.
He also pushed for the Sariling Kuryente Act, which would make rooftop solar panels and battery storage easier to install.
Current net metering programs let households sell excess electricity back to the grid, but the process is slowed by permits and long approval timelines. The new measure would cut red tape and make solar adoption more practical.
Also Read: Marcos calls for nuclear energy program revival amid energy crisis
Aside from ending system loss charges and easing solar access, the president also renewed calls to revive the nuclear energy program, saying it could help secure supply and lower costs amid the ongoing energy crisis.
If passed, these measures could lower costs for millions of households while opening the door for wider use of solar power across the country.
