The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced a PHP 0.1520 per kWh increase in its November electricity rate, bringing the overall residential rate to PHP 13.4702 per kWh from PHP 13.3182 per kWh last month. Despite the adjustment, the power distributor said generation charges went down for the second straight month due to lower fuel costs and competitive prices in the spot market.

For a typical household, consuming about 200 kWh, the adjustment translates to an increase of around PHP 30 in the total bill.

Meralco explained that the rate hike was mainly driven by higher transmission charges, which rose by PHP 0.1468 per kWh following an increase in ancillary service costs from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) also went up by PHP 0.0884 per kWh after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved a new rate of PHP 0.2073 per kWh from the previous PHP 0.1189 per kWh.

These were partly balanced by the PHP 0.1008 per kWh decrease in generation charges to PHP 7.9000 per kWh, which Meralco attributed to lower fuel costs under Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) and reduced prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). PSA charges dropped by PHP 0.2985 per kWh, while WESM rates went down by PHP 0.6273 per kWh.

However, Independent Power Producer (IPP) costs increased by PHP 0.2481 per kWh due to the peso’s depreciation, with most IPP costs denominated in US dollars.

Other charges, including system loss, taxes, and subsidies, registered a net increase of PHP 0.0176 per kWh, partly due to the ERC’s lifting of the suspension on the PHP 0.0025 per kWh Universal Charge–Environmental Charge.

Meralco also emphasized that distribution charges remain unchanged since the PHP 0.0360 per kWh reduction implemented in August 2022.

The company assured customers that it continues to explore cost management initiatives and supports the development of cleaner, more reliable energy sources to help stabilize electricity prices in the long term.

Customers may report power concerns through Meralco’s social media pages, hotline 16211, or by texting 0920-9716211 or 0917-5516211.

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