More expensive electricity in the Philippines

Manila Electric Company alleges higher costs.

Meralco has announced a US$0.005/kWh increase in power rates covering higher generation and transmission charges and taxes.

For customers using 200 kWh, the effect is an increase of US$1.02 in their monthly bill while those using some 500 kWh will be charged an additional US$2.32.

The Philippines’ largest power distributor said the increase is mainly due to the utility's purchase of higher-priced electricity from the wholesale electricity spot market when six power plants shut down plunging all of Luzon island into a blackout.

Meralco said had no choice during that event but to buy additional supply from the spot market at a higher price just to compensate for the lost supply from affected plants.