Meralco rates down by P0.36/kWh in December

MANILA, Philippines — Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will see lower bills as the overall power rate has dropped by P0.3557 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) this month due to lower generation and transmission charges.

The adjustment, which translates to a reduction of around P71 in the power bills of typical households using 200 kWh, brings down the overall rate to P13.1145 per kWh in December from November’s P13.4702.

“With the holiday season approaching, we hope this rate adjustment gives much-needed relief for our customers,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga told a media briefing yesterday.

Zaldarriaga said generation charges, or the cost of power procured by Meralco, declined by P0.1358 per kWh following a drop in fees from the independent power producers (IPPs).

The lower IPP rates offset the increase in charges from power supply agreements (PSAs) and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

IPPs, PSAs and WESM, respectively, accounted for 21 percent, 73 percent and six percent of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period.

Also contributing to this month’s rate reduction was the P0.1462 per kWh drop in transmission charges, due to the decline in ancillary service (AS) costs.

Transmission charges refer to the cost of transporting electricity from power plants to the distribution systems, while AS rates are charged for the backup electricity needed to keep the grid stable.

Similarly, taxes and other charges registered a net reduction of P0.0737 per kWh.

Meralco remits taxes and other charges to the government and pays pass-through charges for generation and transmission to power producers and the grid operator, respectively.

The distribution charge, the only portion that goes to Meralco, has not changed since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction in August of 2022.

With the onset of the holiday season, Meralco has reminded its more than eight million customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to follow proper electrical safety practices.

The company has also assured the public that its crews remain on standby 24/7 to respond to any electricity service concerns.