The Power Of Women In The Power Sector
The role and power of women in the energy sector cannot be understated. Mothers are lovingly referred to as “ilaw ng tahanan” (light of the home) – and very rightly so.
Whether as career women or homemakers, women are mostly in charge of managing the family’s budget, also making them the primary decision makers on matters of utilities, including electricity.
Mothers, in particular, are directly affected by electricity cost. Already having to juggle numerous tasks at home – from caring for and teaching their children, to managing their household and their full-time careers, women are now struggling to pay their mounting monthly bills amid the financial crisis due to the pandemic.
Gretchen Villahermosa, a farmer from Cebu, who claims to have been overcharged by her electric company, shows the kind of burden exorbitant electric costs bring to ordinary Filipino families.
“Duha ra akong suga, naa koy radyo pero akong bill kay 6,000 ka libo nga pesos, nakahilak ko pagkakita sa akong bill, dili ko kasabot nganong mga negosyante sam asa nga oportunista sa ilahang kustomer sama nako.” (I only have two lights and one transistor radio, but I still ended up paying PhP 6,000! I cried after seeing my bill. I don’t understand how power businesses are taking advantage of poor customers, like me,” laments Villahermosa.
Although Villahermosa’s bill was eventually ruled as a “mistake” by her power utility company and was immediately rectified, it did not take away the suspicion that similar mistakes are being unnoticed by unwary consumers.
Gretchen's story is just one of many.
We, at Kuryente.Org, have received a number of complaints from consumers of overcharging, especially during the hard lockdown. The unexpected spike in electricity charges has been appropriately dubbed as “bill shock."
Moreover, due to the continued community quarantine, work and education have migrated online and sufficient and efficient power supply has even become more crucial.
However, threats of disconnection due to non-payment, as well as reports of intermittent or faulty electric service bring additional, and often unnecessary, stress to women.
As we all enter the hot months ahead and consequently spiking monthly electricity bills, Kuryente.org would like to announce that we are embarking on a long term effort to ensure that we all have affordable, accessible and reliable electricity, by aligning ourselves to initiatives that will pursue the immediate lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), allowing households to freely choose their electric supplier. This can potentially reduce bills by 20-30 percent (based on current open access rates) and consequently allow Filipinos to save up for food, education, healthcare, and leisure.
Aside from pushing for more consumer participation in key decision making in the energy industry, we likewise join the call of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to have more women leaders and workers in the Philippine energy industry to make it more “gender responsive”. Currently, women only comprise 25 percent of the workforce in Southeast Asia, and are usually relegated in lower to middle non-technical positions. In the Philippines, there are no women Associate or Undersecretary in the Department of Energy, while in the Energy Regulatory Commission, 3 out of 5 commissioners (including Chair Agnes Devenadera) are women.
As we take time to celebrate women this month, may we also recognize their invaluable contribution to our country’s energy industry and nation-building. Let us empower these women and let their light shine through as “ilaw ng tahanan” by giving them a choice and a voice to amplify calls for an improved energy sector.
Whether as career women or homemakers, women are mostly in charge of managing the family’s budget, also making them the primary decision makers on matters of utilities, including electricity.
Mothers, in particular, are directly affected by electricity cost. Already having to juggle numerous tasks at home – from caring for and teaching their children, to managing their household and their full-time careers, women are now struggling to pay their mounting monthly bills amid the financial crisis due to the pandemic.
Gretchen Villahermosa, a farmer from Cebu, who claims to have been overcharged by her electric company, shows the kind of burden exorbitant electric costs bring to ordinary Filipino families.
“Duha ra akong suga, naa koy radyo pero akong bill kay 6,000 ka libo nga pesos, nakahilak ko pagkakita sa akong bill, dili ko kasabot nganong mga negosyante sam asa nga oportunista sa ilahang kustomer sama nako.” (I only have two lights and one transistor radio, but I still ended up paying PhP 6,000! I cried after seeing my bill. I don’t understand how power businesses are taking advantage of poor customers, like me,” laments Villahermosa.
Although Villahermosa’s bill was eventually ruled as a “mistake” by her power utility company and was immediately rectified, it did not take away the suspicion that similar mistakes are being unnoticed by unwary consumers.
Gretchen's story is just one of many.
We, at Kuryente.Org, have received a number of complaints from consumers of overcharging, especially during the hard lockdown. The unexpected spike in electricity charges has been appropriately dubbed as “bill shock."
Moreover, due to the continued community quarantine, work and education have migrated online and sufficient and efficient power supply has even become more crucial.
However, threats of disconnection due to non-payment, as well as reports of intermittent or faulty electric service bring additional, and often unnecessary, stress to women.
As we all enter the hot months ahead and consequently spiking monthly electricity bills, Kuryente.org would like to announce that we are embarking on a long term effort to ensure that we all have affordable, accessible and reliable electricity, by aligning ourselves to initiatives that will pursue the immediate lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), allowing households to freely choose their electric supplier. This can potentially reduce bills by 20-30 percent (based on current open access rates) and consequently allow Filipinos to save up for food, education, healthcare, and leisure.
Aside from pushing for more consumer participation in key decision making in the energy industry, we likewise join the call of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to have more women leaders and workers in the Philippine energy industry to make it more “gender responsive”. Currently, women only comprise 25 percent of the workforce in Southeast Asia, and are usually relegated in lower to middle non-technical positions. In the Philippines, there are no women Associate or Undersecretary in the Department of Energy, while in the Energy Regulatory Commission, 3 out of 5 commissioners (including Chair Agnes Devenadera) are women.
As we take time to celebrate women this month, may we also recognize their invaluable contribution to our country’s energy industry and nation-building. Let us empower these women and let their light shine through as “ilaw ng tahanan” by giving them a choice and a voice to amplify calls for an improved energy sector.
Nic Satur Jr.
Nic Satur Jr. is the National Coordinator of Kuryente.org, a consumer advocacy group focusing on energy issues. He can be reached through 0927-1448048; info@kuryente.org.