By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — While this week’s projected decrease in fuel prices may offer temporary relief amid the ongoing energy emergency, households served by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will see higher electricity bills this month as the utility announced a ₱0.5335 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in residential power rates. The adjustment brings the overall rate to ₱14.3496 per kWh, up from ₱13.8161 per kWh last month.
For a typical household consuming 200 kWh, the increase translates to an estimated ₱107 additional cost in the monthly electricity bill.
Meralco attributed the rate hike mainly to the continued weakening of the Philippine peso against the US dollar, which raised generation costs for dollar-denominated power supply contracts. As of press time, the exchange rate stood at ₱60.748 to the US dollar.
Based on official figures, the generation charge increased by ₱0.5257 per kWh, rising to ₱8.3864 per kWh from ₱7.8607 per kWh in March this year.
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