Filipino consumers will see a decrease in the transmission charge component in their electric bills, which is at ₱0.0413 per kilowatt hour (kwh) this year to ₱0.4701 per kwh from last year’s ₱0.5114 per kwh.
This due to the recent directive of the Energy Regulatory Commission, which placed the interim maximum allowable revenue (iMAR) for transmission firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) at ₱47.051 billion, according to a report.
ERC Chairperson Agenes T. Devanadera said the reduction in the transmission charge will be an interim relief in the power bill of consumers.
“The lowering of the transmission rate is again one of the efforts of the Commission to provide relief to all electricity consumers,” Devanadera was quoted.
The reduction will be effective upon NGCP’s receipt of the order as issued by the ERC.
Consumers who will benefit most in the tariff cut will those “that are economically disadvantaged who lost their jobs and earnings due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine” amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“This brings a favorable rate impact on the consumers as this will mean a lower transmission charge for this year,” Devanadera added.
There was a delay in the adjustment of the transmission firm’s tariffs in the past years due to ERC sorting out changes in the performance based rate setting for regulated power utitilities in the country.