Families in Iloilo are making tough decisions between paying skyrocketing electric bills or prioritizing essential needs like food, medicine, and education.
In a privilege speech during the regular session, Iloilo 2nd District Board Member Rolito Cajilig expressed alarm over complaints related to the August 2024 billing period.
“This alarming increase has caused our residents’ electric bills to almost double, adding even more pressure to their already strained household budgets,” Cajilig said.
Residential electricity rates of Iloilo I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO 1)—which services the municipalities of Alimodian, Guimbal, Igbaras, Leon, Miagao, Oton, San Miguel, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan, among others in Iloilo—hit P16.3159 per kilowatt-hour in August 2024.
According to Cajilig, “many families are now facing the difficult choice of whether to pay their bills or prioritize other basic needs such as food, medicine, and education for their children.”
ILECO 1 explained that the increase in electric rates is beyond its control, citing price hikes from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) due to congestion in the Panay transmission line caused by unexpected outages and maintenance of power units, forcing the use of more expensive diesel-powered plants.
Additionally, a payment to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) contributed to the rising rates, despite an extension request.
“With wages stagnant and prices of essential goods continuously rising, our people are left with no room to absorb additional burdens like this,” Cajilig said.
Due to these concerns, the board member referred the issue to the Committee on Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities as the lead committee, alongside the Committee on Barangay Affairs, to investigate the increase in electric rates.
According to August 2024 data, ILECO 1 recorded the highest rate among three electric cooperatives operating in the province. ILECO 2 sold its electricity to consumers at P14.4994/kWh and ILECO 3 at P11.8432/kWh.
