Manila, Aug. 20 -- Power distributors can be barred from recovering system-loss costs from consumers, including both technical and non-technical losses, but regulators may have to phase in such a policy to prevent financially weaker utilities from collapsing, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said Thursday.

ERC Chairperson Francis Juan made the clarification as the Senate Committee on Energy examined whether households should continue paying for electricity that is lost before reaching their meters.

"Kung tungkol po sa pagtatanggal ng recovery ng system loss, maging ito ay technical or non-technical, maaari po yan kahit i-zero o pagbawalan ang recovery ng cost na yan (If we are talking about removing the recovery of system loss, wh...