ERC sees power rate increase in April 

MANILA, Philippines — Electricity rates are expected to rise in April due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the peso’s decline against the dollar, according to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Francis Saturnino Juan.

In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB of GMA News, Juan assured consumers that electricity supply is stable.

“For now, we’re seeing that the electricity supply is stable, but rates are high. However, our government is still making preparations,” Juan said.

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“If this is an effect on the prices of the supply of our generation companies to distribution utilities and retailers, we may already see it reflected in our bills this April,” he added.

The ERC has not yet determined the increase in power rates, but the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) said rates may increase by P2 to P4.

But that only covers the supply given by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, Nasecore said.

Nasecore said a P2 hike is equivalent to an increase of P400 for households consuming 200 kilowatt hours.

ERC clarified that it is issuing directives to electric utilities and generation suppliers to collect and increase charges on a staggered basis.

Juan said the high power demand also contributes to the increase in power rates.

He added that generation firms said they have enough coal to operate their power plants amid the increasing prices of delivering coal to the country. /cb