Power rate to go up for November-December billing

CEBU, Philippines — Visayan Electric residential consumers will experience an increase of P1.03/kWh in their electricity rate for the November-December billing cycle.

In a statement, Visayan Electric said that with the power hike, it brings the rate to P12.19/kWh from last month’s P11.16/kWh.

“This is equivalent to an increase of at least P206 for a household consuming 200 kilowatt-hours,” it said.

Visayan Electric said that the increase in the rate is attributed to high generation costs due to line constraints in the Luzon-Visayas Link.

The country’s second biggest power distributor explained that line constraints cause high-priced plants, like oil-powered plants, to be dispatched in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), a venue where electricity is traded and sold.

This month’s rate hike is also driven by the high transmission cost due to an increase in ancillary service charges, the Visayan Electric explained.

Ancillary services are support services necessary to maintain optimal grid operations.

With this month’s rate increase, Visayan Electric president and COO Raul Lucero reminds consumers to be mindful of their energy consumption to avoid bill shock.

“With Christmas just around the corner, I encourage everyone to be conscious of their energy use and take steps to manage it wisely,” says Lucero.

Lucero added that simple practices, like turning off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use, can make a big difference in keeping costs down, especially in the coming holidays.

Visayan Electric further urges consumers to take added safety measures as weather disturbances become more frequent.

It likewise offers free tree trimming services for trees that pose a risk to power lines as trimming trees near power lines is one important step to help prevent outages and maintain safety.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), in a public advisory, said that there will be a power interruption on November 30, 2024 from 6am to 5pm in parts of Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) 1 for the critical maintenance activities at Samboan Substation affecting 69kV Samboan-Ginatilan Feeder.

There will also be another power interruption on part of Cebeco 3 on the same time for the replacement of poles, insulators, and line hardwares along Calong-Calong-Asturias 69kV line. — /ATO (FREEMAN)