Meralco rates down in July

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Monday announced a downward adjustment in power rates for July, following straight months of increases, as generation and transmission charges declined during the period.

In an advisory, Meralco said it will lower rates by P0.7213 per kilowatt-hour (/kWh), bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P11.1899/kWh from P11.9112/kWh in the previous month.

The changes will translate to a P144 decrease in the total electricity bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh.

This comes as the generation charge declined by P0.6436/kWh to P6.6066/kWh, marking the second straight month of declines. Charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) fell by P2.6597/kWh, those from power supply agreements (PSAs) by P0.3915, and independent power producers by P0.4658.

Transmission and other charges — including taxes and subsidies — also posted a net reduction of P0.0777/kWh.

Meralco also called on its customers to apply for lifeline discounts, following the amendment of the rules for its Lifeline Rate program.

Among those qualified to apply are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or members of the marginalized sector who have secured certification from their local social welfare and development office.

Meralco constructs, operates, and maintains electric distribution systems in the cities and municipalities of Bulacan, Cavite, Metro Manila, and Rizal, as well as certain areas in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, and Quezon.

The firm counts as subsidiaries and associates Vantage Energy Solutions and Management Inc. and MeridianX Inc., acting as retail electricity suppliers in Luzon and the Visayas. —KBK, GMA Integrated News