NASECORE Urges ERC to Standardize Monthly Electricity Billing Format to Protect Consumers
The National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (NASECORE) has formally called on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to establish and enforce a uniform, consumer-protective standard for monthly electricity billing formats used by Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Electric Cooperatives nationwide.
In a letter dated 21 January 2026, addressed to the ERC Chairperson and Commissioners, NASECORE raised serious concerns over the declining durability, legibility, and long-term usability of electricity bills, particularly those printed on thin, thermal-type paper that fades over time.
Why the Billing Format Matters to Consumers
Electricity bills are not merely payment notices—they are official records relied upon by consumers for:
- Filing complaints and billing disputes
- Seeking adjustments, refunds, or corrections
- Submitting documentary proof in administrative or judicial proceedings
- Complying with record-keeping requirements of government agencies and courts
For more than a decade, many electric cooperatives and some distribution utilities have shifted to receipt-type billing paper, where printed figures and details fade within months. This practice has materially impaired consumers’ ability to retain bills as reliable records.
A Consumer-Protection Issue, Not a Cosmetic One
While the ERC has cited Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issuances and ERC Resolution No. 14, Series of 2022 (Uniform Rate Reduction or URR Rules) in earlier correspondence, NASECORE clarified that its concern goes beyond layout or tax disclosure requirements.
The issue raised is fundamentally about:
- Paper size
- Paper quality
- Print durability and long-term legibility
These physical attributes directly affect consumers’ rights and access to documentation, especially in rural and economically vulnerable areas where electricity bills often serve as primary official records for households and cooperatives alike.
Uneven Practices Across Utilities
NASECORE noted that MERALCO, the country’s largest distribution utility, has consistently maintained a billing format using durable paper and readable print that remains legible over time—demonstrating that consumer-protective standards are feasible, practical, and not unduly burdensome.
In contrast, the widespread shift to low-durability billing formats by many electric cooperatives occurred without clear evidence of prior ERC approval, raising questions of regulatory compliance and oversight.
Key Questions Raised to the ERC
In the interest of regulatory clarity and accountability, NASECORE respectfully sought clarification on the following:
- Did electric cooperatives and other DUs obtain prior ERC approval before changing their billing formats, particularly with respect to paper size, paper quality, and printing method?
- If such changes were implemented without prior approval, what is the ERC’s:
- Policy position;
- Corrective authority; and
- Intended regulatory response?
Unilateral changes that diminish bill durability and legibility raise serious concerns related to consumer rights, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
Call for a National Minimum Standard
With over 141 distribution utilities nationwide, including 121 electric cooperatives serving more than 15 million electricity consumers, NASECORE reiterated the need for a minimum national standard for monthly billing formats that covers not only content but also:
- Paper quality and size suitable for long-term filing and record-keeping; and
- Printing methods that do not fade over time, ensuring bills remain reliable official records.
Specific Measures Requested
As the ERC finalizes its proposed Amended Bill Format, NASECORE urged the Commission to explicitly incorporate standards on:
- Minimum paper quality and size appropriate for long-term record purposes; and
- Durable printing methods that preserve legibility over time.
Where unauthorized changes are established, NASECORE further submitted that the ERC has the authority to:
- Direct the immediate reversion to previously approved billing formats; and
- Require compliance beginning with the next billing cycle.
Such action would reaffirm that material changes in regulated consumer interfaces cannot be made unilaterally without Commission oversight.
NASECORE’s Position
This issue is not merely about formatting—it is about consumer protection and regulatory accountability.
Electricity bills are a regulated instrument and the primary interface between utilities and consumers. Their deterioration over time has real, continuing consequences for consumers’ rights and access to remedies.
NASECORE urged the ERC to treat this matter consistently with its mandate to protect the public interest, ensure regulatory discipline, and institutionalize consumer-protective standards across the power sector.