Manila, Sept. 28 -- Power distributors that continue charging consumers for electricity lost in their systems would face multimillion-peso fines and be required to return prohibited collections with interest under a bill being pushed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

In a news release Monday, Estrada said Senate Bill No. 2474, or the proposed System Loss Charges Abolition Act, seeks to shift the cost of technical and non-technical system losses from electricity consumers to distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and other regulated entities.

For the first offense, the measure proposes a PHP5-million to PHP10-million fine and full refund of prohibited charges collected from consumers, plus legal interest.

A second offense would carry a...