Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO) has announced a Php 0.3297 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase for its December rates, bringing its overall rate to Php 10.2769 per kWh.
The increase is equivalent to a Php 66 increase for a household consuming 200 kWh on average.
MERALCO said that the increase was mainly due to the completion of the distribution-related refunds equivalent to Php 0.4669 per kWh.
There are three more ongoing refunds amounting to Php 1.3340 per kWh being implemented by MERALCO.
This month’s increase was mitigated by a decrease in generation charge, which went down to Php 6.7975 per kWh. Charges from power supply agreements (PSAs) and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) also decreased after the First Natgas – San Gabriel Plant went back online and improved supply situation in the Luzon Grid.
However, charges from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) increased by Php 0.0545 per kWh following scheduled outages from the First-Gas Sta. Rita Module 10 and Sta. Rita Module 40. Peso appreciation also tempered the increase in the IPP rates.
MERALCO’s transmission rates also increased by Php 0.0753 per kWh due to higher ancillary service changes from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).