Negros Power posts smallest October rate hike in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY — Consumers of Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) will see only a slight increase in their electricity bills this October after the distribution utility posted a rate adjustment of PHP 0.0204 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

The adjustment is the smallest among the three distribution utilities cited in Negros Power’s latest billing data, at a time when rates in other parts of Negros Occidental continued to climb.

The difference matters to households because electricity remains one of the largest recurring expenses for families and small businesses, and the size of each monthly adjustment depends on the utility that holds the franchise in a consumer’s area.

Based on the billing data, the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) recorded an increase of PHP 0.4807/kWh for October, more than 23 times the Negros Power adjustment.

The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO), which serves the southern part of the province, recorded an increase of PHP 0.0863/kWh, about four times that of Negros Power.

For a household consuming 100 kWh a month, the October adjustment translates to an estimated additional PHP 2.04 in electricity charges for Negros Power consumers.

Households under NONECO with the same consumption would pay approximately PHP 48.07 more, while NOCECO consumers would face an additional PHP 8.63.

Negros Power said the figures show relatively modest movement in its rate for the month, offering some relief to consumers amid continuing pressures on the power industry, including changes in generation costs and fuel prices.

The utility added that keeping adjustments manageable is an important consideration for both consumers and businesses.

Negros Power’s rates have moved in both directions over the past year. In October 2025, the utility cut its average residential rate by PHP 0.3594/kWh to PHP 11.9181/kWh, down from PHP 12.2775/kWh in September 2025.

Monthly electricity rates remain subject to changes in generation costs, transmission charges, and other power supply components, which are passed on to consumers by distribution utilities.