NGCP transmission charges rise in April bills

Power consumers may see a slight increase in their April 2026 electricity bills after transmission charges for the March billing period rose by 4.26%, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

NGCP said the overall equivalent average transmission rate increased to PHP 1.7526 per kilowatt-hour from PHP 1.6810 per kWh in February.

The increase was mainly driven by higher ancillary service charges, which rose to PHP 0.8516 per kWh from PHP 0.8275 per kWh in the previous month.

Ancillary services refer to reserve power sourced from generators to help maintain the balance between electricity supply and demand, especially during system imbalances.

Transmission wheeling charges, or the cost of delivering electricity through the grid, also posted a slight increase to PHP 0.7022 per kWh from PHP 0.6677 per kWh.

NGCP said ancillary services continue to account for the bulk of transmission charges because they are needed to help keep the power grid stable.

The company emphasized that it does not earn from ancillary service charges because these are passed on directly to power generators and the market operator.

“The increase in effective transmission wheeling rates has no impact on NGCP’s revenue, as the company’s allowable revenue is capped by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC),” NGCP clarified.

“As the system operator, NGCP’s priority is to ensure the grid remains resilient during supply-demand imbalances. NGCP does not profit from AS charges, as these are remitted directly to the providers,” it said.

Transmission charges are one component of monthly power bills and are separate from generation, distribution, and other pass-through costs.

The latest increase highlights how support services needed to stabilize the grid can affect consumer bills even when they do not translate into additional revenue for the transmission operator.