Customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will enjoy lower electricity bills this holiday season as the company announced a significant rate reduction of P0.3557 per kWh for December. This brings the overall rate down to P13.1145 per kWh from last month’s P13.4702 per kWh.
“For our residential customers consuming 200 kWh, this means around P71 in savings on their December electricity bill,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga. “With the holiday season approaching, we hope this adjustment provides welcome relief for Filipino households.”
Lower transmission and generation charges led the overall reduction, reflecting Meralco’s continuing efforts to secure competitive and cost-efficient supply for its customers.
The transmission charge decreased by P0.1462 per kWh due to lower ancillary service costs from the Reserve Market of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Meanwhile, the generation charge dropped by P0.1358 per kWh, driven primarily by reduced rates from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
IPP charges were lower by P0.2127 per kWh following the decline in natural gas prices, better plant dispatch, and the appreciation of the Philippine Peso, which positively impacted 99 percent of dollar-denominated costs.
Charges from Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) posted slight increases of P0.0706 and P0.8086 per kWh, respectively. PSA rates adjusted upward due to the scheduled maintenance of San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL), while WESM prices rose mainly due to fewer downward billing adjustments.
For this period, Meralco sourced 21% of its energy from IPPs, 73% from PSAs, and 6% from WESM. Taxes and other charges posted a net reduction of P0.0737 per kWh.
It also emphasized that its distribution charge remains unchanged and has not increased since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction implemented in August 2022—underscoring Meralco’s continuing commitment to stable and fair pricing.
As households prepare for the festive season, Meralco encouraged customers to prioritize electrical safety to ensure safe and joyful celebrations.
“As we enter the season of festivities, we remind our customers to continue practicing electrical safety to avoid untoward incidents. Our crews remain on standby 24/7 to address concerns on electricity service,” Zaldarriaga said.
Among the recommended safety reminders for the holidays are:
• Unplug Christmas lights and appliances when not in use or before leaving home.
• Inspect Christmas lights for cracks, frayed wires, or damage before reusing them.
• Use proper light hangers instead of nails or staples to avoid damaging wires.
• Avoid overloading outlets or creating “octopus” connections using multiple extension cords.
• Keep a fire extinguisher at home for emergencies.
Customers may report service concerns through the MyMeralco app, Meralco’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/meralco), X (@meralco), or by calling the Meralco Hotline at 16211.