Manila: Customers of the Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) will see a slight increase in their electricity rates for April, primarily due to higher generation charges, the power utility said on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cotabato Light explained that the adjustment is a result of increased prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), leading to a PHP0.9626 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rise in the generation charge. "This increase in generation charge has caused the overall residential rate to adjust to PHP8.61 per kWh, up from PHP7.65 per kWh in March," the company stated.

For a typical household with a monthly consumption of 200 kWh, this rate hike will translate to an approximate increase of PHP192.52 in their April electricity bill. The new rate will be applied to the billing period spanning from April 16 to May 15, 2025.

Cotabato Light clarified that the surge in WESM prices is largely attributed to the onset of the warm and dry season, which was officially declared by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on March 26. The company further elaborated that the combination of heightened demand and a reduced power supply during this period has driven up generation costs.

'Cotabato Light wishes to emphasize that the generation charge is strictly a pass-through cost, meaning the company does not generate any profit from this particular adjustment,' the power firm stressed. 'It solely reflects the actual cost incurred in purchasing electricity from the market. Importantly, the distribution charge has remained constant since 2012.'

To help customers manage their electricity consumption and bills during this period of increased demand, Cotabato Light is encouraging the adoption of energy-saving practices. Cotabato Light and Power Company serves Cotabato City and the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.