MANILA, Philippines – Customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will have to brace for higher electricity bills in June.
In an advisory issued on Thursday, June 11, Meralco announced it is increasing its rates by P0.1488 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the June billing period. This translates to a P30 increase in electricity bills of households consuming around 200 kWh.
The power distributor attributed the rate hike to higher generation charges brought by price hikes in the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) amid tight supply conditions in the Luzon grid.
The Luzon grid was placed under red alert for three consecutive days in May, resulting in rotational brownouts as the power system struggled to meet demand.
“As a result, the secondary price cap was imposed 3.89% of the time, indicating persistently high spot market prices during the period,” Meralco said.
Meanwhile, transmission charges helped offset the month’s rate hike after dropping P0.1525 per kWh. The Manny Pangilinan-led power distributor also noted an ongoing refund for residential customers ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Due to higher consumption amid the extreme heat in May, Meralco urged its customers to closely monitor their consumption and continue practicing energy conservation efforts.
“Among the practical tips customers can practice are regular cleaning of air conditioner filters and electric fan blades, ironing clothes in bulk, refraining from overfilling refrigerators, and using LED bulbs for cost-saving lighting,” Meralco said. – Rappler.com