Meralco power rates going up in July

MANILA, July 11 ------ Meralco electricity rates are going up by P0.3428 per kWh in July. This means customers' power bills may go up by the following amounts based on their consumption:

Consumption Increase

200 kWh P68

300 kWh P102

400 kWh P136

500 kWh P170

Meralco said power rates are going up because of higher generation charges. Generation charges rose to P9.2504 per kWh from P9.0704 last month because of higher fuel prices. The power distributor noted that the scheduled maintenance shutdown at the Malampaya natural gas facility prompted two plants to switch to the more expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Meralco also said costs from power supply agreements climbed to P8.8694 per kWh because of the impact of the Middle East conflict in the global energy market. Wholesale electricity spot market prices also rose to P8.0337 per kWh as tighter power supply conditions in the grid pushed spot market prices higher.

Meralco also said taxes increased by P0.0960 per kWh, and transmission and other charges also went up by P0.0668 per kWh. Inflation eased to 6.4 percent in June as fuel prices fell compared to previous months. But National Statistician Dennis Mapa flagged rising electricity prices when asked if he sees inflation easing in the coming months.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com