MANILA, Philippines, December 11 ------ Power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is increasing its electricity rate by P0.1048 per kilowatt hour in December, bringing the overall rate to P11.9617 per kWh from last month’s P11.8569 per kWh.
The adjustment, which marks the second consecutive increase, translates to an additional P21 in the power bills of typical households consuming 200 kWh a month. “This month’s increase was largely due to a higher generation charge, which goes to our power suppliers,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said at a press conference yesterday.
The generation charge, which went up by about P0.18 per kWh this month, covers the cost of power purchased from independent power producers (IPPs), the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and power supply agreements (PSAs). WESM, PSAs and IPPs, respectively, accounted for 31.4 percent, 40.2 percent and 28.3 percent of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period.
WESM charges increased by P0.2531 per kWh amid tighter supply conditions in Luzon, while PSA charges were higher by P0.1050 per kWh due to the continued weakening of the peso. However, these increases were partially offset by the P0.0410 per kWh decrease in IPP charges. Transmission costs, or the fees charged for the transportation of electricity from power plants to distribution systems, likewise went down by P0.0940 per kWh.
Pass-through charges for generation and transmission, Meralco noted, are paid to power suppliers and the grid operator, respectively. Meralco’s distribution charge, on the other hand, has not changed since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction in August 2022. Meralco is the largest private distribution company in the country, providing electric service to eight million customers within its franchise coverage that includes Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Source: philstar.com
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