Meralco's P3.44/kWh rate hike may come in tranches

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may charge this month's rate hike of P3.44 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in tranches following regulatory approval.

 

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said they are currently in consultations with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for a possible staggered payment for the record rate hike.

This developed after Malacañang appealed to power companies to defer any plans of increasing its rates in light of the calamities which recently beset the country.

 

"We will meet with ERC on Monday," Zaldarriaga said in a phone interview on Friday.


 

 

The Meralco spokesman told GMA News Online on Wednesday that Meralco did a staggered billing on a higher generation charge in 2010, when the Malampaya gas line was also shut down for maintenance from February 10 to March 13 that year.

 

The record-high generation charge this month and in January 2014 is due to the Malampaya shutting down from November 11 to December 10 as well as the shutdown of a number of power plants for maintenance.

 

Meralco customers can expect electricity rates to normalize by February once those power plants are back online. — Danessa O. Rivera/JDS/ELR, GMA News