Metro Manila, Philippines – Power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has announced higher electricity rates this month, with the impact of the Middle East crisis on generation charges expected to count in the May billing statement.
Customers will pay ₱0.5335 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) this month, Meralco spokesperson and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said in an online media briefing on Friday, April 10.
This translates to ₱107 more in the monthly bill of a household consuming 200 kWh.
“Hindi pa natin maramdaman yung effects sa fuel prices dito sa April generation charge. Kasi yung April generation charge reflects costs from March, and nung March, nandito na po sa bansa yung fuel na na-import natin,” Zaldarriaga explained.
[Translation: We have not yet felt the effects of fuel prices in the April generation charge because it reflects costs from March. And in March, the fuel we imported had already arrived in the country.]
“So hindi pa ito apektado noong nangyayari sa Middle East. We expect the impact on fuel costs to be reflected sa May generation charge,” he added.
[Translation: So this is not yet affected by what is happening in the Middle East. We expect the impact on fuel costs to be reflected in the May generation charge.]
No estimate has been given on how much rates could increase next month.
For April, the rate hike was driven mainly by higher generation charges due to the weakening peso, which also led to increased taxes, Zaldarriaga said.
Although lower than earlier projections, this marks the third straight month of rate hikes:
- February: ₱0.22/kWh
- March: ₱0.64/kWh
- April: ₱0.53/kWh
A bit of good news — some relief is expected for low-consuming households. Expanded discounts ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission take effect this month, including a 100% discount for households consuming up to 50 kWh.
“Meralco will likewise continue to implement its existing lifeline discounts beyond the national threshold, granting a 35% discount for qualified customers consuming 51 to 70 kWh a month and 20% discount for those consuming 71 to 100 kWh,” Zaldarriaga said.
Meanwhile, Meralco head of utility economics Larry Fernandez assured the public there will be no rotating brownouts, despite the state of national energy emergency. He cited the Department of Energy’s simulations showing no supply deficiency in Luzon, even during the peak summer months.
