MERALCO: Timely electricity rate drop this school-opening month of June

Classes have started for most schools nationwide, and this means bigger expenses for families with schooling kids and young adults.

It is good news then for moms like us that electricity rates are going down this June by Php 0.13 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). That means households consuming an average of 200 kWh a month will be paying around Php 25 less. 

Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga explained in a recent media briefing that the reduction is due to the decline in generation charge (gencharge), the cost of producing electricity which Meralco collects in behalf of generation companies or power producers. 

This month’s gencharge, the lowest rate since October 2004, more than offsets a higher transmission charge, or the cost charged by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for the use of lines to “deliver” electricity to our households. Taxes and other charges also moved downwards.

While Meralco is the entity that bills and collects all these charges that go into our monthly electric bill, it does not earn from generation, transmission and other charges as these are remitted to the corresponding entities such as generation companies and the NGCP. The only payment that Meralco gets for its services are the distribution, supply, and metering charges, which have remained unchanged since its last mandated reduction in July 2015.

Electricity safety tips

While we‘re at it, let me share with you some safety tips from Meralco, which can help prevent accidents at home this rainy season. 

In case of flooding, switch off the main electrical power or circuit breaker. Ask your husband to train you, or the other adults in your household, on how to do this properly, so this can still be done even if he is away. 

Unplug appliances from wall sockets, unscrew light bulbs, and make sure all electrical wires and extensions are completely dry. After the flood has subsided, have a licensed electrician check all affected appliances and electrical wirings before switching on power.

Learn safety tips from Meralco’s website www.meralco.com.ph, Twitter @meralco and Facebook page, and its 24-hour hotline 16211.

viva manilena