Bacolod city: Average residential power rate in this highly urbanized city and its five neighboring cities and municipalities decreased in December, the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) said in a report on Monday. This month's rate is pegged at PHP12.04 per kilowatt hour (kWh), lower by PHP0.18 per kWh from PHP12.23 per kWh in November.
According to Philippines News Agency, Negros Power supplies electricity to customers in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Bago as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. In its report, the utility firm said lower power supply cost contributed to the rate reduction.
Price in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) decreased by PHP1.63 per kWh, from PHP7.67 per kWh in November to PHP6.04 per kWh this month. "Lower demand following recent typhoons across the Visayas led to the reduction. It also resulted in a PHP0.43 per kWh decrease in overall generation charges," it said.
However, ancillary service charges slightly increased from PHP60.28 per kW to PHP62.92 per kW due to system conditions after the recent typhoons, which is equivalent to an increase of PHP0.19 per kWh for residential consumers. "In terms of overall impact, net rate still went down, giving consumers real savings this December," the power firm said.
