Meralco rates up this month; fuel prices also rise

Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can expect an increase of P0.152 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in their November bills, reflecting higher charges from transmission and from the feed-in tariff allowance (FIT-All).

- By BRIX LELIS

Meanwhile, another round of fuel price hikes is expected today amid global supply concerns arising from ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to four oil companies.

The power rate adjustment, which adds roughly P30 to the electricity bills of typical households using 200 kwh, pushes the overall rate to P13.4702 per kwh from October’s P13.3182.

At a press briefing yesterday, Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said transmission rates, or the cost of transporting electricity from power plants to distribution systems, went up by P0.1468 per kwh.

The increase was attributed to higher ancillary service charges, which cover the cost of backup electricity needed to keep the power grid stable.

The Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a P0.0884 per kwh increase in FIT-All charges also contributed to the overall rate hike for November bills.