Bacolod: Infrastructure investments have lessened the feeder loss rate of Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) and contributed to lower power rates, particularly for residential consumers this June, the firm said Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the power distribution company announced a decrease of PHP.055 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for residential customers this month. Residential consumers will be charged PHP11.14 per kWh for the June billing cycle, down from the previous month's PHP11.69. Meanwhile, commercial customers will see rates of PHP11.18 per kWh on low voltage and PHP10.09 per kWh on high voltage.

The power firm highlighted that the reduced rates 'result from strategic and efficient energy management,' crediting ongoing line rehabilitation and system upgrades for producing tangible benefits. The feeder loss rate improved to 8.03 percent from 8.28 percent last month, demonstrating that infrastructure investments enhance operational efficiency and reduce unnecessary power losses, thus contributing to overall cost reductions.

The company emphasized that 'this rate adjustment is part of our ongoing commitment to ease the financial strain on our consumers.' In July last year, Negros Power secured a 25-year franchise to distribute electricity to the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Bago, as well as the municipalities of Don Salvador Benedicto and Murcia.

Since commencing operations in August last year, Negros Power has completed the rehabilitation of the Alijis Substation and the entire 30-kilometer Bacolod-Silay 69 kilovolt subtransmission line. These efforts were complemented by extensive vegetation clearing to reduce outage risks and improve system reliability. The company also strategically installed and upgraded energy-efficient distribution transformers across the franchise area and intensified efforts to reduce system loss.