January 2025 Power Bills Show Higher Charges

Power consumers will see a slight rise in transmission charges on their January 2025 electric bills, driven by increased ancillary services (AS) and transmission wheeling rates.

The December 2024 billing period recorded AS rates at PHP 0.5928 per kWh, a 4% increase from PHP 0.5699 per kWh in November 2024.

Ancillary services ensure grid stability and are sourced from the AS Reserve Market or bilateral contracts with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Transmission wheeling rates also rose to PHP 0.5315 per kWh from November’s PHP 0.4957 per kWh. The overall transmission charge for December reached PHP 1.2584 per kWh, up from PHP 1.1966 in November.

“Of the overall transmission charge, only 53 centavos is charged by NGCP for the delivery of its services to power consumers,” NGCP clarified in a statement.

“This month’s transmission charge is still comprised mainly of AS charges remitted directly to power generators providing ancillary services to the grid.”

NGCP emphasized that it does not profit from AS charges, which are passed directly to power generators.

Ancillary services are essential for balancing and stabilizing the grid during supply-demand imbalances, ensuring reliable power delivery nationwide.