LIKE the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the two other power distribution utilities in Negros Occidental have also reported a drop in their respective rates for this month.
The Northern Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noneco), catering to consumers from E.B Magalona town to San Carlos City, announced a decrease by P0.1831 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
From P10.1698 per kWh last month, it went down to P9.9867 per kWh in June.
Paulino Almedelia, corporate planning manager of Noneco, said the drivers of the lower power rate include the decrease in generation cost, at P0.2101 per kWh, due to low Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price.
Almedelia said there is a negligible increase for transmission and systems loss charges, at P0.0061 per kWh.
"Also, a minimal increase of P0.0209 per kWh for other charges due to the resumption of feed-in-tariff (FIT-ALL) collection," he added.
For Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), which caters to consumers in the south, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an, the decrease in residential power rate is P0.0105 per kWh.
From P8.5426 per kWh in May, it dropped to P8.5321 per kWh this month.
Jonas Discaya, general manager of Noceco, said the lower power rate is attributed to reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on generation rate of residential customers, at P0.0968 per kWh.
Other factors included decreases in transmission rate of residential customers, at P0.0221 per kWh; VAT on transmission rate, P0.0249 per kWh; subsidy rates, P0.0234 per kWh; and suspension of the collection of the P0.0025 per kWh Universal Charge-Environmental Charge (UC-EC) as advised by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on its advisory dated May 22 2020.
Discaya said the overall electricity rate decreased despite the P0.0911 per kWh increase in the generation charge, which moved from P4.0551 to P4.1462 per kWh; P0.0186 per kWh increase in systems loss; and resumption of the collection of P0.0495 per kWh (FIT-ALL).
"Noceco's distribution, supply and metering charges remain unchanged despite the increase in the overall electricity rate for this month," he said, adding that generation and transmission rates are pass-on charges paid to the respective power suppliers and transmission utility National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Thus, the collected amount on these charges are not retained by the cooperative, the general manager stressed.
He also urged member-consumers to conserve energy and to be aware of their energy consumption to avoid paying high electricity bills.
Ceneco, which caters to the largest number of electric consumers in Negros Occidental, earlier announced a drop of P0.9207 per kWh in its residential power rate this month.
From P11.1923 per kWh in May, its power rate went down to P10.2716 per kWh in June.
The cooperative, in an advisory, said the rate reduction is mainly attributed to the decrease in the fixed cost component of the power supply contract with Kepco Salcon Power Corporation, as well as lower price in WESM.
It covers areas including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
