Consumers of Manila Electric Co. can expect higher electricity bills of P0.4274 per kilowatt hour this month due to higher generation charges arising from the impact of the peso depreciation.
Meralco’s overall rate for a typical household will go up to P11.8569 per kWh this November from last month’s P11.4295 per kWh.
“For customers who have a consumption of 200 kWh per month, there will be an P85 overall increase in their electric bill and there will be an upward adjustment as the consumption increases,” Meralco spokesman and vice president Joe Zaldarriaga said.
He said this was due to the increase in generation charges by P0.2884 per kilowatt hour.
Zaldarriaga said charges from Meralco’s independent power producers and power supply agreements went up by P0.9392 and P0.4295 per kWh respectively, largely due to the depreciation of the peso.
Meralco’s IPPs and PSAs supplied 24 percent and 47 percent, respectively, of its total energy requirement last month.
Charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), where Meralco sourced 29 percent of its supply requirements last month, also inched up by P0.0150 per kWh.
Meralco said the P0.0724 per kWh increase in the transmission charge due to higher ancillary service charges from the WESM Reserve Market also contributed to the overall increase in the electricity rate this month.
Taxes and other charges similarly increased by P0.0666 per kWh.
Meralco’s distribution charge, on the other hand, has not moved since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction for a typical residential customer in August 2022.
The company also provided relief to customers severely affected by the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine.”
Meralco customers in areas placed under a state of calamity with a monthly consumption of less than 200 kWh per month are spared from disconnection until December 2024. They can also avail of installment payment arrangements for six months for their electricity bills from October to December 2024.
“Meralco has always been considerate of its customers especially during challenging times. We join the government in efforts to help those severely affected by the storm to recover as soon as possible. Qualified customers for the staggered payment arrangement can go to Meralco Business Centers and our personnel will assist them accordingly,” Zaldarriaga said.
