Consumers served by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will see some welcome relief in their electricity bills this September, with rates dropping by P0.1852 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on the back of lower generation charges.
This adjustment brings the overall household rate to P13.0851 per kWh from last month’s P13.2703 per kWh. For a typical household consuming 200 kWh, the cut translates to savings of around P37 on their monthly bill.
“We know how important this relief is for our customers, especially with households adjusting to seasonal expenses,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga. “We hope this reduction, coupled with relatively lower consumption during the cooler months, provides some breathing room for our consumers.”
Why rates are lower this month
The decrease was mainly driven by a drop in the generation charge, which went down by P0.2603 per kWh. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) contributed significantly to the reduction, with charges dropping by P1.3459 and P0.3660 per kWh, respectively.
The appreciation of the peso against the US dollar and lower international fuel prices played a key role, as nearly all IPP costs and more than half of PSA costs are dollar-denominated. These decreases were enough to offset higher charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and the start of the collection of approved price adjustments from two suppliers, Sual Power, Inc. (SPI) and South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC).
Other charges
Transmission charges posted a slight increase of P0.1130 per kWh due to higher ancillary service costs, while taxes and other charges went down by P0.0379 per kWh. Distribution charges, meanwhile, remain unchanged since Meralco’s P0.0360 per kWh reduction for residential customers in August 2022. Customers are also still benefiting from a distribution-related true-up adjustment, equivalent to a P0.2024 per kWh reduction.
Reminders on safety and efficiency
As the rainy season continues, Meralco urged customers to stay mindful of electrical safety, especially during floods. Among the tips: switch off the main power in case of flooding, keep hands dry when handling appliances, and have a licensed electrician inspect outlets and appliances before reuse if they were submerged.
The power distributor also reminded customers to practice energy efficiency to further manage their bills. Practical tips include cleaning air conditioner filters regularly, ironing clothes in bulk, avoiding overfilled refrigerators, and switching to LED bulbs.
To help households plan better, Meralco encouraged the use of its Appliance Calculator, available online, which estimates the energy consumption of appliances and gadgets.
Customers may report service concerns through the Meralco mobile app, official social media accounts, hotlines, and text numbers.