ERC targets power reforms in 2026

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is moving to overhaul the nation’s power landscape in 2026, pledging to clear a longstanding case backlog and finalize pricing for emerging technologies such as offshore wind (OSW) to help lower costs for households.

- By Gabriell Christel Galang

In a statement, ERC Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan said the regulator will prioritize consumer protection and investor confidence through a five-pillar strategy aimed at modernizing the aging energy market.

Juan said the plan focuses on evidence-based rate setting, market oversight, and a more aggressive timeline for resolving pending regulatory approvals.

According to the ERC chief, the primary hurdle for the Commission remains the completion of long-overdue regulatory resets for distribution utilities (DUs), which are critical in determining the rates that power firms can charge consumers.