The electricity rate in Iloilo may go up again in June 2026.

Power distributors have not declared an amount just yet, as of this writing, but said the increase may be P1 per kilowatt hour.

Among the factors causing the increase include the high demand for electricity due to the extreme heat, as well as the successive yellow and red alert status of the Visayas grid.

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), a red alert status is issued when power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

The recent status of the Visayas grid has forced rotational brownouts in several areas. 

“May mga manual load dropping na nangyari because of outage ng ilang mga planta. Plus, ito ay restraint rin sa transmission side sa area sa latest ngayon ng AC transmission line. We are really looking sa upward na trend,” said Angel Tan, spokesperson of More Power.

More Power’s residential rate is at P11.87 per kilowatt hour, as of this writing.

Sally, a consumer from Iloilo, said the power rate hike is no good news, especially that she still has P5,000 overdue on top of her P4,782 bill for May.

“Syempre konsumisyon kung saan na naman kukuha ng pambayad. Ito lang naman ang ginagamit namin… electric fan at ref,” she said.

Another consumer in Iloilo, Vilma, said they are trying to save on electricity as much as they can.

“Masakit na tumaas kahit P2 per kilowatt. Alam mo, ang aming resources (ay) pension lang… hindi kaya,” she said.

ILECO 1 also said its rate will go up by June 2026.

“Ini-expect na magmahal lalo pa sa spot market natin na supply. Dahil nag-effect na ang actual na presyo sa kuryente sa spot market,” said its Corporate Planning Manager, Engr. Edwin Figueroa.