The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced today an upward adjustment of P0.3297 per kWh, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P10.2769 per kWh this December from the previous month’s P9.9472 per kWh.
For residential customers consuming 200 kWh, this is equivalent to an increase of around P66 in their total electricity bill.
Completion of distribution-related refund triggered upward adjustment
This month’s overall rate increase was mainly due to the completion of a distribution-related refund equivalent to P0.4669 per kWh for residential customers.
There are still three (3) ongoing refunds, totaling P1.3340 per kWh for residential customers, being implemented by Meralco that continue to temper customers’ monthly bills. These are expected to be fully refunded by December 2022, January 2023 and May 2023, and the impact will subsequently be felt in the succeeding billing periods.
Meralco’s distribution charge, on the other hand, has not moved since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction for a typical residential customer beginning August 2022.
Lower generation charge tempered increase
Mitigating this month’s power rate adjustment was the generation charge, which went down by P0.1942 to P6.7975 from P6.9917 per kWh the previous month.
Charges from Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) decreased by P0.2079 per kWh as the First Natgas-San Gabriel plant went back online on October 15 coming from scheduled maintenance outage from October 1 to 14. The Peso’s appreciation, which affected 38% of PSA costs that are dollar-denominated, also contributed to the reduction.
Further pulling down the generation charge was the P1.3985 per kWh reduction in Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) charges due to improved supply situation in the Luzon grid. While average daily capacity on outage remained at the 3,900-MW level, the reduction in both peak and average demand in the November supply month resulted in fewer impositions of the secondary price cap, which was triggered only 21% of the time in November versus October’s 52%.
Independent Power Producer (IPP) charges, on the other hand, inched up by P0.0545 per kWh. First Gas-Sta. Rita Module 10 was on scheduled outage from November 4 to 11 and on November 19 to 20, while Sta. Rita Module 40 was also on scheduled outage from November 12 to 27. The Peso’s appreciation tempered the increase in the IPP rate, as 98% of IPP costs were dollar-denominated.
IPPs, PSAs, and WESM accounted for 41%, 52%, and 7%, respectively, of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period.
Transmission and other charges
Transmission charge for residential customers increased by P0.0753 per kWh due to higher ancillary service charges of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, taxes and other charges registered a net decrease of P0.0183 per kWh mainly due to the absence of feed-in tariff allowance (FIT-All) following the issuance of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s Resolution, suspending the collection of P0.0364 per kWh FIT-All rate for three (3) months starting the December 2022 until the February 2023 billing periods.
Pass-through charges for generation and transmission are paid to the power suppliers and the grid operator, respectively, while taxes, universal charges, and FIT-All are all remitted to the government.
Public urged to continue practicing electrical safety measures during the holiday season
For a bright, merry, and accident-free holiday celebration, Meralco advised the public to practice electrical safety measures.
Buy Christmas lights with quality control markings and make sure to use the appropriate type for indoor and outdoor use. When installing decorations outdoors, inspect for loose connections first and possible damages especially near power lines.
Avoid ‘octopus’ connections or overloading and avoid using all appliances at once. As a general reminder, ensure that there are fire extinguishers available and that family members know how to use them.
Lastly, when leaving the house, make sure to unplug Christmas lights and all appliances. It is also better to turn off your circuit breakers before leaving.
Meralco call center agents and operations crews will be on standby 24/7 during the holiday season to keep the lights on for close to 7.6 million customers to ensure a safe and festive celebrations.
Customers can report power outages and other concerns to Meralco through its social media accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and Twitter (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920-9716211 or 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211 and 8631-1111.
