ILOILO City – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin recently highlighted Iloilo City’s significant 14% increase in power demand in 2025, well above the national average.
According to Garin, this growth stems from programs led by Mayor Raisa Treñas in collaboration with MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power).
She noted that this reflects progress not just in business but also in households, as consumers gain the capacity to purchase additional electrical appliances — a key driver of the city’s rising energy demand.
Recently, the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) visited Iloilo City to promote the Expanded Lifeline Rate Program. Iloilo City and MORE Power, however, have already been implementing the original Lifeline Rate Program since its launch in July 2023, ahead of other cities.
To date, Iloilo City has 6,310 Lifeline Program beneficiaries: 4,360 from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and the rest from indigent and marginalized communities.
“I have to say ang mga policies sang LGU (local government unit) together sang MORE Power is one of the best in the country. Gina-copy ina namon ang programa diri sa Iloilo City,” said Garin.
Under the Expanded Program, 4Ps households consuming 50 kWh or less per month receive a 100% discount, with automatic enrollment.
Beyond the Lifeline Rate Program, the ERC also commended MORE Power’s Bill Deposit Refund initiative.
To date, MORE Power – under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Z. Castro – has refunded P9.2 million in bill deposits to 1,421 consumer accounts that have paid their bills on time for 36 consecutive months.
This follows the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers, which requires distribution utilities to refund deposits after such consistent payments.
MORE Power proactively notifies eligible consumers through billing statements, text messages, emails, and phone calls, encouraging them to visit the office to claim refunds either by check or bill credit, rather than waiting for consumers to apply.
The ERC witnessed MORE Power’s Bill Deposit Refund program firsthand, prompting the agency to highlight this Magna Carta provision and encourage distribution utilities nationwide to extend the same benefits to eligible consumers./PN
