CEBU, Philippines — Residential consumers of Visayan Electric will see a decrease of P0.68/kWh in their December 2024 to January 2025 billing.
This, Visayan Electric said in a statement, would mean the overall residential rate will go down to P11.51/kWh, which is lower compared to last month’s P12.19/kWh.
“This translates to savings of at least P136 for a household consuming 200 kilowatt-hours,” it said.
Visayas Electric said the decrease in the rate is attributed to the lowering of electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), an avenue where electricity is traded.
While this is good news, the Visayan Electric reminded consumers to be extra mindful of their energy usage this holiday season.
“Let us not be too complacent with the recent reduction in the electricity rate, as our usage during the holiday season may be unusually high, resulting in a higher bill despite the decrease in the rate,” warned Visayan Electric President and COO Raul Lucero, in the same statement.
The Visayan Electric said a few of the contributing factors to high energy consumption during the holiday season are electronic Christmas decorations, fully-stocked refrigerators, and longer or more frequent use of appliances such as electric fans, air conditioners, and televisions.
With this, Visayan Electric advised consumers to practice energy-saving measures, such as using LED lights for decorations, switching off unnecessary appliances, and setting air conditioners to optima temperatures.
“Small changes like these can help reduce energy consumption and lower electricity bills during the holiday season,” the distribution utility further said.
The Visayan Electric serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Naga and the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. — (FREEMAN)