It is not only local consumers who will take the news with irritation, even anger. Business owners will also shake their heads in frustration, wondering why they keep paying more and more for the electricity that they need to keep operating.

The Energy Regulatory Commission has just approved PSALM’s (Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.) proposed “universal charges” for next year. This translates to an additional 39 centavos per kilowatt hour in everybody’s electric bills.

While not yet a done deal, the looming increase can be considered a foregone conclusion. Next year is likely to happen as early as the start of 2013. The sad part is, “universal charges” can be interpreted to mean practically anything. There may not be any improvement in service, but the charges will appear in the bills anyway.

It is no secret that power rates in the Philippines are among the highest in the region. Coupled with this is the increasing cost of labor, and the country may not be as attractive as other countries in the region to global investors.

Especially in manufacturing, the biggest expenses are salaries and utilities. While that other major expense, rent, may still be relatively low in many parts of the country, all investors look at the total picture when they look at places to place their funds.

Given the steadily growing economy capped by the unexpected 7.1 percent hike in Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter, it is fair to assume that the Philippines has become the apple in the eyes of foreign (and local) investors. What they will fail to appreciate is the sudden and unexpected increases in power rates which seem to occur without warning every so often.

Since the country’s power mostly comes from imported oil, the latest increase does not make sense, given the strengthening of the peso. We are now paying less for the oil that drives the power plants, most of which we import.

Pity the poor consumers who do not quite understand the mechanics that result in higher electricity bills. There will be the usual finger pointing at who or what is to blame. All the consumers can do is grin and bear it.

The government should take a second look at the power distribution structure in the country. Not just in Metro Manila, but nationwide.

If other developing countries can afford to charge less for power, there is no sane reason why the Philippines cannot charge more competitive rates.

Besides the little understood “universal charges,” consumers are still charged for the inefficiencies of the power distributors. The systems losses that they suffer are passed on to users, while the causes of those losses remain. In simple language, systems losses are nothing more than stolen electricity.

In a perfect world, there should be no systems losses. Yet there are. The vast majority of honest consumers are made to pay for the dishonesty of a few, as well as the inefficiency of the distributors.

Consumers need a break from these constant rate increases, and it is only the national government that can provide the succor that they seek.