(DC file photo)
MANILA, Philippines – Customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will face higher electricity bills this November following a P0.49 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate increase, primarily driven by rising power generation costs.
During an online briefing on Friday, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said the increase was attributed to adjustments in generation, transmission, distribution, and other electricity charges.
The generation charge increased by P0.4344 per kWh, while transmission charges from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) rose by P0.0080 per kWh.
Distribution charges also increased by P0.0096 per kWh, while other charges climbed by P0.2108 per kWh.
Zaldarriaga explained that the depreciation of the Philippine peso against the US dollar and the continuing crisis in the Middle East contributed to higher fuel prices and operating expenses for power generation companies supplying electricity to Meralco.
Taxes and other regulated charges also increased following tariff adjustments approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the First Regulatory Period, which affected distribution, supply, and metering charges.
Despite the rate increase, Meralco assured residential customers that two ERC-ordered refunds, totaling approximately P1 per kWh, remain in effect.
These include the Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT) refund covering the period from July 2022 to December 2025.
Zaldarriaga said an additional AWAT refund of P0.17 per kWh would also take effect this November and continue for six months.
Meanwhile, Meralco reminded customers with outstanding electricity bills from May to July to settle their balances within November, while unpaid bills from August to October must be paid by December.
On electricity consumption during the holiday season, Zaldarriaga said Christmas decorations generally use less power than cooling systems, which account for a larger share of household electricity consumption during warmer months.
“We can see that in the seasonality of consumption. Starting in March, it tapers off by July, stays steady, and even declines during the ‘ber’ months. And then the cycle just repeats itself,” he said.
The company noted that electricity consumption typically declines toward the final months of the year as cooler weather reduces the need for air-conditioning.
