Residential electricity rates increased across the three major distribution utilities serving Negros Occidental in October, with the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative posting both the highest rate and the biggest month-on-month increase.
NONECO raised its residential rate by P0.4807 per kilowatt-hour, from P17.1454/kWh in September to P17.6261/kWh in October.
The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative increased its rate by P0.0863/kWh, from P16.1428/kWh to P16.2291/kWh.
Negros Electric and Power Corp., or Negros Power, meanwhile, posted the smallest increase at P0.0204/kWh, bringing its October residential rate to P14.2691/kWh from P14.2487/kWh in September.
NONECO attributed the increase mainly to higher prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market following unexpected outages of major power plants in the Visayas Grid and congestion in transmission lines.
The cooperative said its October rate also includes staggered recovery of previously deferred WESM charges, the final 25 percent installment for June, the third 21.25 percent installment for July, and the second 25 percent installment for August.
Foreign exchange movements and higher fuel prices also affected the cost of electricity purchased from power suppliers, NONECO said.
To cushion consumers from another large increase, NONECO said it sought a staggered recovery of its September WESM bill, collecting only 20 percent in October and spreading the remaining 80 percent over November and December.
NOCECO similarly cited persistently high WESM prices despite the implementation of the Secondary Price Cap.
The cooperative said it also requested permission from the Energy Regulatory Commission to stagger payment of its September WESM bill until December.
An increase in the Universal Charge-Missionary Electrification also contributed to NOCECO’s October rate, while its transmission and system loss charges declined.
Negros Power said WESM prices rose sharply to P13.6087/kWh from P9.8812/kWh due to higher demand and the temporary unavailability of several generating plants.
However, a staggered payment mechanism limited the immediate impact on consumers, with part of the higher power procurement costs to be recovered over the succeeding months. Its transmission and Universal Charge-Missionary Electrification charges also increased.
Among the three utilities, Negros Power maintained the lowest October residential rate at P14.2691/kWh, followed by NOCECO at P16.2291/kWh and NONECO at P17.6261/kWh.
The October figures mean a household consuming 200 kWh would pay about P3,525 for the electricity component at NONECO’s average rate, P3,246 under NOCECO and P2,854 under Negros Power, before considering differences in individual consumption and billing adjustments.*
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