Metro Manila, Philippines – Customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will pay more in July as a result of higher generating costs and taxes.
The power distributor announced on Friday, July 10, an increase of ₱0.3428 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), bringing the overall residential rate to ₱14.8261 per kWh from ₱14.4833 per kWh in June.
The adjustment means households consuming 200 kWh will pay ₱69 more.
Meralco said the increase was mainly driven by higher generation charge, which rose by ₱0.1800 per kWh due to fuel costs and the scheduled shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility beginning June 15.
The maintenance forced the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo power plants to shift to the more expensive liquefied natural gas.
The company also cited higher prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, a trading platform, which it attributed to tighter power supply and record-high electricity demand in Luzon, as well as higher taxes and transmission charges.
Meanwhile, Meralco said the distribution charge is unchanged from August 2022.
