Power rates up by 27¢ in April

AFP FILE PHOTO

Electricity rates went up by 27 centavos kilowatt (kWh) per hour in April in the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) franchise area.

The increase will mean that, for a typical household consuming 200 kWh, the overall electricity rate will increase to about P10.68 per kWh in April, against the P10.41 per kwh the previous March.

An increase in power rates had been anticipated as gas-fired power plants turned to alternative fuels for the 30-day maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas platform off Palawan until April 14.

For average users, the current rate is still lower by 81 centavos per kWh than the year-ago rate of P11.49 per kWh in April 2014.

The generation charge increased by 20 centavos per kWh, from P5.21 per kWh to P5.41 per kWh.

Taxes and other charges also registered increases of five centavos per kWh and three centavos per kWh, respectively.

The transmission charge, on the other hand, registered a decrease of P0.01 per kWh.

The Malampaya maintenance shutdown forced major gas-fired power plants to use more expensive liquid fuel.

The use of alternative liquid fuel resulted in higher rates being charged by Meralco’s suppliers. The rates of the independent power producers (IPPs) went up by 17 centavos per kWh. Riza T. Olchondra