Lawmakers urged to prioritize energy reforms in the next Congress

INCOMING LAWMAKERS should prioritize measures that would prioritize energy security, particularly amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and reforms that would enhance the powers of key regulatory bodies, according to analysts.

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"The next Congress should prioritize legislation that puts energy security at the forefront, while still addressing affordability and sustainability concerns," Noel M. Baga, convenor of think tank Center for Energy Research and Policy, said in an interview with BusinessWorld.

The 19th Congress is set to resume session on June 2 until sine die adjournment on June 13. The 20th Congress is set to open in late July.

Mr. Baga is also pushing the passage of a law that will increase the regulatory powers of the Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

This includes the power to conduct regular inspections of power generation facilities to ensure their proper operation and maintenance.

"This is fundamental to national energy security by preventing outages and reducing dependence on emergency imports," he said.

Lawmakers are also being urged to amend the 23-year-old EPIRA to address high power costs.