The Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) on Monday, March 9, 2026, said electricity rates are expected to shoot up due to rising prices of petroleum products triggered by the Middle East crisis.

Davao Light spokesperson, Fermin Edillon, said the tension in the Middle East will impact power rates.

“Daghan og power plants nato sa Pilipinas nga nagapalit og kanang fuel nila sa laing nasud. So, definitely naa gyuy impact ang kaning tension dinha karon sa Middle East kay kung musaka ang price of fuel sa World Market, definitely musaka pud ang pagpalit nila sa ilahang nga fuel like for example coal and oil.” Edillon said.

Edillon explained that the company’s power supply largely comes from coal-fired plants.

He said the cost of coal and other fossil fuels used in electricity generation is tied to world market prices.

He added that when fuel costs rise, the generation charge goes up, which will result in power rate increases.

“Ang generation charge pasaka naog ni siya depende na siya sa fuel sa world market,” Edillon added.

Davao Light said the exact amount of the rate adjustment is still uncertain, as it depends on pricing from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), from which Davao Light procures additional supply.

“Kung sa WSEM man gud ang storyahan nato kung ubos iyang presyo tsaka ta didto mokuha mao toy giuna natong dispatch kay para di modako ang overall electricity rates. As to the amount di pa ta maka-determine sa pagkakaron it could be april ang impact ana niya,” Edillon said.

The over residential electricity rate for February is at P10.30 per kilowatt-hour, which is P1.42 lower compared to the January rate.

(With reports from Rgil Relator, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)