A consumer group in Davao City has raised concern over the more than P2 per kilowatt-hour increase in electricity rates imposed by the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light).

The Davao Consumer Movement said it is alarmed by the increase, which would add burden to consumers.

In an advisory, Davao Light said the January 2026 rate is P11.7187 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is P2.0052/kWh higher than the P9.7135/kWh in December 2025 rate.

Davao Light said the increase was implemented due to the high power supply prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) caused by several power plant outages the previous month.

Davao Light added that the implementation of the new government charge, the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) under the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) dated December 26, 2025, also contributed to the overall increase.

“Kanunay ra man gud ning gabalik-balik ang market, volatile, matag karon ug unya, taas ang presyo, dili ba mahimong himuan na kining pamaagi daan sa distribution utility ug mga kooperatiba nga ingon ani man gyud ang cycle,” Davao Consumer Movement Convenor, Ryan Amper, said.

He said that consumers are the ones affected most.

“Ang concern man gyud nato ani, unsa-unsa ba ang kapasidad sa mga consumer nga moapas aning matag-karon-ug-unya nga pagsaka sa mga bayrunon. Misaka ba ang sahod sa minimum wage earners? Wala. Nagtaas kanunay ang presyo sa gasoline, modugang pa gyud ang presyo sa kuryente,” Amper added.

Davao Light explained that the increase involves pass-through charges, particularly generation costs, which fluctuate due to several factors.

“Kini man gud, pass on charges kining generation man gud mao ni naga saka naog kay daghan factors ang gina-consider… ang kining rate, temporary lang ni siya… muubos na ni siya sa February mobalik na online ang mga planta nga naay maintenance work niadtong December,” Davao Light Spokesperson, Fermin Edillon, said.

Meanwhile, several consumers complained that their electricity bills nearly doubled in January compared to the previous billing period.

Davao Light clarified that consumption should also be considered, not just the rate increase.

“Tan-awon nato ang consumption kining bill atong January gigamit nato atong December naay possibility nga ang consumption nisaka dili lang ang rate. Daghan og holidays meaning naa ka saimong balay kung naa ka saimong balay kung naa kay aircon times two pud ang gigamit sa imong aircon or nisaka ang number of hours nga imong gigamit,” Edillon added.