CONSUMER AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EPIRA LAW OF 2001 AMONG THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES IN SURIGAO DEL SUR

Business Management

In a time when energy consumption increasingly affected household budgets and economic stability, understanding consumer awareness and engagement with electricity billing became crucial to the success of energy sector reforms like the EPIRA Law of 2001. This study assessed consumer awareness of billing structures among electric cooperatives in Surigao del Sur and evaluated their perception of EPIRA’s implementation since its enactment. EPIRA aimed to ensure fair pricing, service reliability, and transparency through standardized billing formats that clearly presented charges and payment details.Findings from 370 residential consumers revealed a strong awareness of practical billing components such as due dates, disconnection policies, and payment options, which directly influenced payment behavior and service continuity. However, awareness of more technical components like unbundled charges for generation, transmission, and distribution remained limited. This emphasized the need for improved educational initiatives for consumers. Consumers generally perceived EPIRA’s implementation as moderately successful, noting improvements in service reliability and quality. Yet, electricity affordability remained a persistent concern, suggesting that while billing transparency promoted engagement, it was not enough to address cost-related issues. Notably, awareness of practical billing aspects positively influenced perceptions of service quality, whereas technical awareness did not significantly affect affordability perceptions. To fully realize EPIRA’s goals, utility providers must simplify billing formats and enhance educational efforts. These steps, along with broader policy measures such as promoting competition, ensuring access to affordable energy sources, and reviewing tax-related cost components, are essential not only to building consumer trust and supporting informed electricity use but also to addressing long-standing concerns about affordability.

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