Residential power rates up P0.33/kWh

CEBU, Philippines — Residential customers of Visayan Electric will see a ?0.33 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in their August–September bills, raising the overall residential rate to ?11.60/kWh from ?11.27/kWh last month.

For a household consuming an average of 200 kWh monthly, this translates to an additional ?66 on their bill.

Visayan Electric said the adjustment is mainly due to higher generation charges driven by rising prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). An increase in transmission charges also contributed to the hike.

Earlier, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that transmission rates went up after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved higher collections under its Maximum Allowable Revenue (MAR), along with accumulated under-recoveries from 2016 to 2022 and lower energy demand during June–July.

In July, transmission rates climbed to ?0.5923/kWh from June’s ?0.4611/kWh, or an increase of ?0.1312/kWh. While Ancillary Services charges dropped from ?0.6182/kWh in June to ?0.5872/kWh in July, the overall average transmission rate still rose by 9.25 percent, from ?1.2113/kWh in June to ?1.3233/kWh in July.

Visayan Electric Officer-in-Charge President and General Manager Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica urged consumers to conserve energy to help soften the impact of higher rates.

“Simple actions like unplugging appliances when not in use, switching to LED lights, and moderating the use of high-energy devices can help manage your consumption and monthly bills,” Kindica said.

The utility also issued safety reminders for the rainy season, such as avoiding downed power lines, keeping electrical connections dry, and switching off the main breaker if water enters the home to prevent electrocution and other hazards.

Meanwhile, the NGCP appealed for public cooperation in protecting transmission lines, stressing that obstructions, fires, vegetation, and unauthorized activities near power lines could cause widespread outages.

During a recent Power 101 seminar for media and government information officers, NGCP Visayas Transmission Planning Manager Michael Baylosis warned against activities that threaten the power grid, including tree growth into high-voltage lines, fires beneath towers, and illegal structures along transmission routes.

“Trees that interfere with our high-voltage transmission lines can cause outages. Fires beneath these lines can also trigger automatic shutdowns because our system operates based on thermal capacity—excessive heat will shut it down,” Baylosis explained.

He also cautioned against tampering with towers, excavation, climbing, and even kite flying near power lines, saying the loss of a single tower could cause long-term power interruptions.

Citing the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, Baylosis stressed that removing tower parts, planting trees, or erecting structures under transmission lines is punishable by law.

“There are penalties for obstruction. Failure to maintain these areas could lead to tower collapse and service disruptions,” he said, appealing for public support in allowing NGCP personnel to access and maintain critical transmission routes. /FPL (CEBU NEWS)