The Department of Energy (DOE) assured the public on Wednesday that regulatory safeguards and supply monitoring measures are in place to prevent consumer abuse and mitigate potential rate spikes if the country faces a “Super El Niño” phenomenon.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin warned that electricity rates could face upward pressure as soaring temperatures drive up power consumption nationwide.
To shield consumers from arbitrary price hikes or overcharging during peak demand periods, Garin emphasized that the DOE will work closely with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to oversee distribution utilities and power suppliers.
“To help prevent possible overcharging or other abuses, the DOE will coordinate with the ERC to ensure that power distributors do not take advantage of the situation,” Garin said.
The energy chief added that the government is actively implementing contingency frameworks to maintain grid stability and cushion consumers from volatile electricity costs during extreme weather events.
Alongside regulatory oversight, the DOE renewed its call for public cooperation through demand-side management, urging residential, commercial and industrial consumers to practice energy conservation to avoid straining the national power grid during severe heat waves.