MANILA — Following higher universal charges and taxes on power, electricity rates will increase by an average of P62 this month, according to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)
The P62 increase rate is for an average residential customer with a 200-killowatt-hour consumption.
The universal charge is a separate line in consumers’ electricity bills and which accounts for roughly three percent and used for subsidizing power in far-flung areas.
Taxes registered an increase of two centavos per kwh while subsidies increased by three centavos.
Also according to Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, the reduction in the transmission charge and the flat rate for the distribution charge was still not enough to stop the rates from increasing.
“The damage caused by the typhoon to some transmission and generating facilities limited the output of a number of power plants located in Southern Luzon. This led to the lower dispatch of the affected plants,” Meralco said.