Meralco: Generation charge hike looms in October

Customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) could expect higher bills this month due to a possible hike in the generation charge.

Citing the power distributor’s October 2025 rate indication, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said the anticipated increase in generation charge was “due to the depreciation of the peso, which affects costs of our suppliers that are mostly dollar-denominated.”

Zaldarriaga said the company is still waiting for some billings from suppliers before finalizing the October electricity rate.

Last month, Meralco reduced its household electricity rate by 19 centavos. 

The company’s overall household electricity rate dropped to P13.0851 per kWh, down P0.1852 from P13.2703 per kWh in August.

“We, however, are hopeful that these possible increases will be tempered by lower WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) prices as reported by IEMOP (Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines),” Zaldarriaga said.

“Rest assured that we will announce the overall rate adjustment once all billings have been received and verified,” he added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News