Power consumers may see a slight increase in transmission charges reflected in their April 2026 electricity bills, after rates rose by 4.26% for the March billing period.

Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed the overall equivalent average transmission rate increased to PHP 1.7526 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is up from PHP 1.6810/kWh in February.

The increase was primarily driven by higher Ancillary Service (AS) charges, which rose to PHP 0.8516/kWh from PHP 0.8275/kWh in the previous month.

Ancillary Services refer to reserve power sourced from generators to help maintain the balance between electricity supply and demand, especially during system imbalances.

Transmission wheeling charges, or the cost of delivering electricity through the grid, also saw a slight increase, rising to PHP 0.7022/kWh from PHP 0.6677/kWh.

NGCP emphasized that it does not earn from Ancillary Service charges, as these are passed directly to power generators and the market operator.

“The increase in effective transmission wheeling rates has no impact on NGCP’s revenue, as the company’s allowable revenue is capped by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC),” NGCP clarified.

The company added that Ancillary Services continue to make up the bulk of transmission charges, as these are necessary to ensure the stability of the power grid.

“As the system operator, NGCP’s priority is to ensure the grid remains resilient during supply-demand imbalances. NGCP does not profit from AS charges, as these are remitted directly to the providers,” it said.

As transmission costs edge higher, how can consumers better understand the factors driving changes in their electricity bills?

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