Consumers in Iloilo City and Bacolod City may have to pay more for electricity in their June 2026 billing.

In Iloilo, consumers may have to pay their distributor, MORE Power, up to P2 per kilowatt hour.

This means that from P11.87 per kWh, consumers will have to pay P13.87 per kWh.

The demand for electricity is what brings up the generation charge, which is why MORE Power urged its consumers to save on electricity.

A resident, Marites Diamansil, said her family does its best to save on power but the additional cost would still put a dent on their budget.

“Hindi na nga kami naghe-heater. Tinigilan na namin. Rice cooker, tinigilan na rin namin. Ang ref hindi talaga pwedeng itigil,” she said.

Meanwhile, electric cooperative ILECO 1 said it will impose an additional P1 per kilowatt hour also in the June billing.

It explained that the increase is actually P2 but the implementation will be on a staggered basis.

“Nag-request tayo ng staggered payment sa ERC o Energy Regulatory Commission. I-spread sa ilang buwan upang hindi masyadong malaki,” said Engr. Edwin Figueroa, it’s Corporate Planning Manager.

In Bacolod, additional payment for electricity reaches up to P2.46 per kilowatt hour.

This means, the P11.38 kWH will now be P13.84 kWh in the June billing.

This is bad news to many consumers in the city, including the family of Edmond Senining.

The family manages a sari-sari store and a billiard place so they expect an additional P860 to their bills.

Senining can only wish for a smaller amount.

“Mas mabuti sana kung medyo mababa kasi may pangbaon pa ng mga bata. Kahit na sa public school sila nag-aaral, kailangan pa rin ng pamasahe ng mga bata,” he said.

Another consumer in the city, Joan, said their P1,000 savings will now go to their bills.

“Ang P1,000, i-saving pa namin ‘yan, bayad sa mga bills. Mahirap talaga,” she said.

CAUSE

Power distributors are forced to bring the price of electricity up because the price of electricity in the wholesale electricity spot market also went up.

The supply of electricity has been low for the past month that the Visayas grid has to be placed under yellow

“We can say that this is a national problem. Not only Negros Power is affected by this insufficient capacity but the entire Visayas area. The highest cost of power is no power at all,” said Engr. Christian John Villena, Energy Sourcing Manager of Negros Power.

“Ang share na binibili natin sa WESM or merkado ng kuryente, tumaas ng sobrang laki. So from an average of P4.50/kWh, umakyat siya sa P10.90/kWh.”