Meralco collects P0.11 increase in generation charge this Feb.

An 11-centavo increase in the generation charge component of electricity consumers use will be reflected in the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) billing to its customers this February.   For households whose power consumption in a month is only 100 kilowatt hours (kwh), the increase totals P11.00.   Meralco said the electricity it will supply to its franchise areas cost more to produce at the level of the National Power Corporation and independent power producers, which sell their output on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market or WESM.   Larry Fernandez, Meralco head of utility economics, explained that the cost of coal and natural gas—used to fuel the power plants that generated some of the electricity Meralco distributes—cost more in the world market.   Meralco collects the generation charge on behalf of its suppliers of electricity. — ELR, GMA News