Meralco seeks OK for higher electricity rates

Manila Electric Co., or Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, is seeking to collect higher distribution, supply and metering charges of P1.6333 per kilowatt-hour on the average, representing the new charges for regulatory year 2013 under the performance-based regulation (PBR) scheme.

The amount, which is higher than the current charges of P1.6012 per kWh, will only be effective as soon as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approves Meralco’s application for the rate translation of its approved maximum average price for regulatory year 2013.

Based on its petition filed before the ERC, the P1.6333 per kWh comprised of a distribution charge amounting to P1.1858 per kWh; 27.27 centavos per kWh for the supply charge; and 17.48 centavos per kWh for the metering charge.

The average P1.6333 per kWh, if approved, will only cover the period July 2012 to end-June 2013.

In terms of customer classes, those consuming 200 kWh will have to pay higher charges of 1.192 per kWh from 1.0278 per kWh, while those with monthly consumption of 201-300 kWh will have to pay charges amounting to P1.5535 per kWh from the current P1.3851 per kWh.

Meralco customers consuming 301-400 kWh will, meanwhile, have to pay P1.8907 per kWh, which is 9.8 percent higher than current charges of P1.7223 per kWh.

Meralco stressed the need for ERC to grant an approval for the imposition of the new distribution, supply and metering charges by July this year to “enable it to immediately implement in a timely manner its capital expenditure program and address its operating and maintenance requirements for the third regulatory period.”