Power distributors impose rate hikes in November bill

By John Noel E. Herrera

Customers of several power distributors and electric cooperatives, both in Iloilo City and the province, might see a spike in their electric bills amid continuous rate hikes.

Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO)-II and ILECO III, which supply electricity to the province of Iloilo, earlier announced that they will impose rate hikes due to the increase of coal prices in the international market.

ILECO II general manager Engr. Jose Redmond Roquios confirmed an increase of P0.30 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in its electricity rate, from P14.70/kWh rate in October to P15.01/kWh in November 2022.

ILECO III, on the other hand, will increase its rate by P0.60/kWh, from P14/kWh in October to P14.6/kWh in November.

ILECO III general manager James Balsomo II also said that they will try to have a P1 cut in their electricity rate in the December bill.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City’s sole power distributor, More Electric Power Corporation (MORE Power) said that they will impose a rate hike of P2.1842/kWh this month due to higher generation charges, making the rate P14.66/kWh. MORE Power previously increased its rate in September by P3.34, making the total increase P5.52 in the span of a few months.

“Ang pass-through charges halin sa generation kag transmission ginabayad sa mga power suppliers kag grid operator samtang ang taxes kag universal charges gina-remit sa gobyerno,” MORE Power said in a statement.

MORE Power also explained that the distribution, supply and metering charges will remain the same, as it assured consumers that they are still looking for alternative power sources to bring down the rate.

MORE Power Corporate Planning and Regulatory Affairs head Neil Parcon added that MORE’s rate is still lower compared to other private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.

“Ang presyo sa Iloilo indi man gid amo na kataas kon i-compare mo sa iban. Sa Negros gani nagadalagan na gid P18/kWh, sa Ilocos tag P19, P20/kWh,” he said.

“Kabay pa nga maintindihan sabng aton mga konsumidor kag kabay pa nga ang presyo sang coal magsige ka panaog para sa mga masunod nga bulan ang presyo sang aton kuryente magbalik na sa daan nga manubo nga presyo.”

Some consumers expressed dismay after knowing that there would be a power rate hike for the month of November as it would be an added burden for them.

Ralph Luntao from Mandurriao, Iloilo said that the increase in the rate of electricity will cause more financial burden to them, knowing that prices of commodities have also increased because of inflation.

“Puro na lang na saka, ligad pa ina nga sinakaanay sang ILECO, ang budget nga para sa pagkaon ara na lang tanan sa kuryente naga kadto kay mas dako pa ang kuryente kaysa sa budget ka pagkaon,” Hasmin Gonzales also commented on the public advisory of ILECO III.