Bacolod: Residential consumers in Negros Occidental are experiencing a reduction in power rates as two electric cooperatives have secured lower prices from suppliers and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) for the month of June.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) announced a decrease of PHP0.5673 per kilowatt hour (kWh), bringing the rate down to PHP12.7225/kWh from the previous PHP13.2898/kWh in May. Noneco attributed this reduction to the lower electricity prices from the WESM and the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates and fuel costs of power suppliers. Notably, only 12.66 percent of the total rate in June was allocated to Noneco's distribution, supply, and metering (DSM) charges, which have remained stable at PHP1.6109/kWh since February 2010. These charges are utilized for maintenance, construction, and administrative costs to sustain the cooperative's daily operations. Noneco's service area encompasses the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, and Calatrava, along with the cities of Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, and San Carlos.

In addition, the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) in southern Negros reported a rate reduction of PHP0.6152/kWh, decreasing from PHP12.0262/kWh in May to PHP11.4110/kWh in June. The cooperative highlighted that the main factor for this decrease was the reduced cost of power purchased from suppliers, with the WESM seeing a notable drop of PHP0.9874/kWh. This contributed to a significant decline in the generation charge, which is now at PHP5.8665/kWh compared to the previous month's PHP6.2267/kWh. Additionally, the transmission and systems loss charges also decreased in June. Noceco serves consumers in the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, and Hinoba-an, as well as in the cities of La Carlota, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and Sipalay.