Brace for higher electricity bill in May, says Meralco

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Consumers should expect a power rate increase in May due to a high electricity demand amid the summer heat, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said.

In an Inquirer Radio 990AM report Wednesday, Zaldarriaga was quoted as saying that the power rate will be below P1-per kilowatt hour.

This was lower to the expected P1.70-per kilowatt hour.

Zaldarriaga said power prices went up due to the spike in generation costs as well as an increase in consumer demand.

Meralco was criticized for allegedly colluding with power players to shut down their plants amid Meralco’s power rate increase that was indefinitely stalled by the Supreme Court.

In April, power prices were jacked up to P0.89 per kilowatt hour due to higher power generation costs and related charges amid the demand for power during the summer.

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