By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Electricity rates for Manila Electric Company (Meralco) customers edged lower for a second consecutive month in September as reductions in ancillary service charges and taxes more than offset an increase in generation costs.
Meralco said Friday that its overall rate fell by PHP0.0409 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), bringing the September charge to PHP14.7424 per kWh from PHP14.7833 per kWh in August.
For a household consuming 200 kWh, the latest adjustment translates into savings of about PHP8 on the monthly electricity bill, according to Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga.
Zaldarriaga said the September reduction follows the rate cut implemented by the utility in August, providing some relief to consumers amid continuing fluctuations in power costs.
The utility attributed the lower ancillary service charge to reduced rates in the reserve market.
Taxes and other charges also declined, partly because the maintenance shutdown at the Malampaya gas facility had been completed. This allowed the First Gas and Prime CoreGen plants to make full use of indigenous natural gas, which is exempt from value-added tax.
Meralco also said customers continue to benefit from two regulatory-mandated refunds that together amount to PHP1.0139 per kWh.
Despite the increase in generation charges, the combined reductions in other components of the electricity rate resulted in the lower overall September charge.
ia/xf
