The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued new rules aimed at making miscellaneous charges on electricity bills clearer and preventing distribution utilities from imposing duplicate or unclear fees on consumers.
Under ERC Resolution No. 30, Series of 2026, the regulator adopted rules governing other charges that distribution utilities may impose. The resolution was promulgated on September 26 after being docketed on September 24.
The rules are intended to standardize how these charges are applied and presented, addressing concerns over fees that may be difficult for consumers to identify or that could overlap with charges already included elsewhere in their electricity bills.
The move comes as the ERC continues efforts to improve transparency in electricity billing. Earlier this month, the commission also adopted a new billing format requiring distribution utilities to clearly identify government-mandated pass-through charges, including system loss charges that are not subject to value-added tax.
The new billing format is part of a broader effort to help consumers distinguish between charges imposed by distribution utilities and costs that are passed through under government regulations. The ERC has separately classified allowable system loss charges as government-mandated pass-through costs for VAT purposes.
The latest rules add another layer of oversight over the charges that can appear on consumers’ electricity bills. Distribution utilities will have to follow the standardized requirements when implementing applicable miscellaneous fees.
The ERC’s actions come amid continuing consumer concerns about electricity costs and the complexity of monthly power bills. Clearer descriptions and standardized treatment of charges are intended to make it easier for customers to understand what they are paying for.
With the new rules now in place, distribution utilities are expected to align their billing practices with the commission’s requirements as regulators continue to strengthen consumer protections in the power sector.
