LAOAG CITY, July 28 -- Residents here have expressed optimism over the proposed amendments to Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), hoping the changes will help reduce electricity rates and improve the delivery of power services.

During his 5th State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said system loss should not be blamed and passed on to consumers.

Under the EPIRA, distribution utilities may automatically collect pass-through charges, including charges from system loss, which is the cost of electricity lost to illegal connections and metering errors, and that does not reach customers.

He also asked the help of Congress to pass a law that will make it easier for ordinary Filipinos to...