MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 9th September 2020 – Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) announced today another downward adjustment of power rates, as the overall rate for a typical household decreased by P0.0623 per kWh, from last month’s P8.4911 per kWh to P8.4288 per kWh this September.  This is equivalent to a reduction of around P12 in the total bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh.

This month’s overall rate is also the lowest in three years, or since September 2017.

Lower Generation Charge as MERALCO claims Force Majeure

From P4.1241 per kWh in August, the generation charge decreased by P0.0381 per kWh to P4.0860 per kWh this September.  This is the sixth straight month of generation rate reduction.

Because of the reduced power demand in its service area during the community quarantine period, MERALCO continued to invoke the Force Majeure provision in some of its Power Supply Agreements (PSAs). This September, the Force Majeure claim totaled about P463 million, equivalent to customer savings of P0.1710 per kWh in the generation charge. Without the Force Majeure claims, the generation charge and the total rate would have increased by 13-centavos and 14-centavos per kWh, respectively. For the past 6 months, the savings from Force Majeure claims totaled around P2.4 billion.

PSA charges decreased by P0.3032 per kWh due to MERALCO’s Force Majeure claim. PSAs accounted for 54.8% of MERALCO’s energy requirement

Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) charges were P0.0147 per kWh lower this month due to decrease in Luzon demand as some areas, including Metro Manila and adjacent provinces, returned to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to 18. The share of WESM to MERALCO’s supply needs was 11.6%.

Meanwhile, purchases from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) inched up by P0.0601 per kWh mainly due to lower average plant dispatch. IPPs accounted for 33.6% of MERALCO’s total supply.

Movements in Other Charges

Transmission charge for residential customers registered a slight reduction of P0.0112 per kWh due to lower Ancillary Service Charges. There was also a net decrease of P0.0130 per kWh in Taxes and other charges.

Collection of the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge amounting to P0.0025 per kWh remains suspended, as directed by the ERC.

MERALCO’s distribution, supply, and metering charges, meanwhile, have remained unchanged for 62 months, after these registered reductions in July 2015. MERALCO reiterated that it does not earn from the pass-through charges, such as the generation and transmission charges. Payment for the generation charge goes to the power suppliers, while payment for the transmission charge goes to the NGCP. Taxes and other public policy charges like the Universal Charges and the FIT-All are remitted to the government.

MERALCO keeps its doors open for customers during General Community Quarantine (GCQ)  

Customers may visit their nearest Meralco Business Center, which will continue to open its doors during the GCQ, and accept service applications, payments, and other transactions.

Strict safety measures continue to be implemented, like the “No Mask, No Entry” rule, Social Distancing and Temperature Check. Frontliners are available and ready, but strictly follow Social Distancing guidelines. Visitors can rest assured that these frontliners have passed the rapid COVID-19 testing authorized by the Pasig City Health Office. There are also acrylic barriers set up in the Meralco branches to protect both the customer and the frontliner.

But, for maximum safety and convenience, Meralco still encourages customers to use Meralco Online to transact from the safety of their homes. Multiple options for transactions have also been offered by the distribution utility, including the Meralco Mobile App via https://onelink.to/meralcomobile, Meralco Online via www.Meralco.com.ph, and the Meralco authorized payment channels at bit.ly/MeralcoPaymentPartners.

For more information and concerns, customers may visit MERALCO’s website at www.MERALCO.com.ph, its social media accounts, twitter @MERALCO and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MERALCO or may also call the MERALCO Hotline at 16211.