Following the announcement made by Meralco last week that customers can expect lower power rates in January, today the company announced a reduction of P0.2189 per kWh in the electricity rate this January, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to ₱11.7428 from the previous month’s ₱11.9617 per kWh.
For residential customers with a consumption of 200 kWh, this translates to a decrease of around P44 in their total electricity bill this month.
Lower generation charge drives overall rate reduction
This month’s generation charge went down by ₱0.1313 per kWh to ₱6.8358 per kWh, primarily due to lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) which decreased by P0.8840 per kWh and ₱0.1593 per kWh, respectively.
The reduction in WESM charges was brought about by the improved supply situation in the Luzon Grid as average peak demand dropped by 471 MW. The average capacity on outage likewise decreased by 305 MW.
IPP charges meanwhile went down because of the appreciation of the peso, affecting 97% of IPP costs that were dollar denominated; as well as lower cost of fuel and higher dispatch of the First Gas-Sta. Rita plant.
These reductions tempered the ₱0.5638 per kWh increase in charges from Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) due to lower plant dispatch.
WESM, IPPs, and PSAs accounted for 34%, 30%, and 36% respectively of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period.
Transmission charge and other charges
Transmission and other charges also registered a net reduction of ₱0.0876 per kWh.
Pass-through charges for generation and transmission are paid to the power suppliers and the grid operator, respectively, while taxes, universal charges, and Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) are all remitted to the government.
Meralco’s distribution charge, on the other hand, has not moved since the ₱0.0360 per kWh reduction for a typical residential customer in August 2022.
Meralco reminds public to practice energy efficiency
To better manage electricity consumption, Meralco reminded its customers to continue practicing energy efficiency for better management of their electricity consumption.
“While electricity rates decreased this month, we would like to remind our customers to continue practicing energy efficiency as a way of life especially with the dry season is fast approaching,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
Some power saving tips include unplugging appliances when not in use, ironing large batches of clothing at one time, refraining from overfilling refrigerators, regular cleaning of air conditioner filters, and using LED bulbs for lighting.
Meralco customers can also have better control of their monthly electricity bills with the help of the Meralco Appliance Calculator that provides information on the energy consumption of appliances and gadgets.
Customers can report their concerns through the My Meralco app or through Meralco’s official social media accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and X formerly Twitter (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920-9716211 or 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211 and 8631-1111.
