Residents in Negros Oriental who rely on the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) for electricity may see their bill going up by April 2026.

Atty. Fe Marie Dicen-Tagle, General Manager of the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) said movements in the global market will have an effect on local charges.

“What it is nga mo-affect sa global market, naa pud syay impact sa atoang generation charges, as well as sa transmission, kay naa man pud silay kuhaon nga uban nga sources… naa silay reserve power para mo-stabilize sa atoang grid,” she said.

The ongoing tensions in the Middle East has disrupted the global market and brought up the prices of fuel.

Tagle also said electricity from the geothermal plant in Valencia, Negros Oriental, its main source, is not enough to supply consumers of NORECO II.

Because of this, NORECO II needs to get power from the Cebu-Negros and Panay Grid, as well as from Mindanao.

As of this writing, it is yet to be determined how much more consumers will have to pay in April but a slight increase has already been noted in the March billing.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), power rates may go higher by 30 percent by April.

The increase will be reflected in the generation and transmission charges, as well as in the lifeline rate, value added tax, and systems loss.

With the cost of fuel and electricity going up, it will only be about time that the prices of basic goods will follow.

Resident Joel Umbac cannot help but worry, especially that consumers are expected to consume more electricity as the weather gets hotter with the start of the dry season.

“Patay nami aning mga konsumedor. Naa pay palaliton, idugang pa… unsaon na lamang ning mga tawo ini,” he said.

On March 26, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12316, the law that would enable him to suspend or reduce the excise tax on petroleum products.