Power rate to go down for February-March billing

CEBU, Philippines — Residential consumers within the franchise area of Visayan Electric can expect a decrease of P0.37 per kilowatt hour in their power consumption for the next billing period--February to March—due to lower generation rates in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

Raul Lucero, Visayan Electric’s president and chief operating officer (COO) announced the good news on Valentine’s Day.

“This is attributed to lower generation rates in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), along with reduced transmission charges from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP),” the power utility firm said.

The decrease in generation rate would bring down the power cost from P11.62/kWh to P11.25/kWh. For an average household consuming at least 200 kilowatts a month, the decrease would save them at least P74.

The power distribution utility also encouraged the power consumers to prepare in advance for the dry season albeit there is no formal announcement yet from the Philippine, Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“Given the unpredictable nature of our weather, it’s crucial to begin our preparations for the dry season, as PAGASA could announce its arrival in the coming months,” said Lucero.

Lucero also noted that historical data indicates electricity rates and consumption typically surge during the dry season due to increased reliance on cooling appliances.

The Visayan Electric added that electricity consumers can start preparing for the dry season by making sure that their cooling appliances, like air conditioners and electric fans, are clean and well maintained to ensure the optimum performance of these appliances. – /FPL (FREEMAN)