Meralco rates higher this month

Households within the franchise coverage of power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can expect an increase of P0.6436 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity bills this month.

- BRIX LELIS

Meralco said the increase, which was due to higher passthrough charges, brought the overall electricity rate to P12.0575 per kWh in June from last month's P11.4139 per kWh.

The adjustment translates to an increase of about P129 for a typical household consuming 200 kWh a month.

According to Meralco, the rate hike this month was driven by an increase in generation charge of P0.3466 per kWh amid higher costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

"In the last supply month, we've seen tightness of supply coupled with high demand from the system. There was really pressure to increase WESM prices," Meralco VP and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said at a press conference.