P0.31/kWh power rate hike August–Meralco

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MANILA, Philippines — The cost of electricity will go up by P0.31 per kilowatt hour (kWh) this August, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said on Friday.

In a statement, Meralco said this would be equivalent to P62 for every 200 kWh of consumption.

“An increase in generation charge and higher universal charge, lifeline subsidy and taxes drove overall upward adjustment. There was no change in Meralco’s distribution charge, while Transmission charge showed a slight reduction,” Meralco said in a statement.

Generation charge for the month went up by 23 centavos per kWh to P5.64 per kWh from P5.41 per kWh, Meralco said.

It added that universal charge increased by P0.04 per kWh, while taxes and subsidies also went up by P0.02 and P0.03 per kWh, respectively.

Meralco’s distribution charge remain unchanged, while transmission charge dropped by P0.01 per kWh over lower ancillary charges.

Meralco said in the statement that the rise in cost was due to the short power supply in the aftermath of Typhoon “Glenda” in July.

“The damages caused by the typhoon to some transmission and generating facilities limited the output of a number of power plants located in Southern Luzon. This led to the lower dispatch of the affected plants,” the statement read.

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