Electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental encouraged consumers to conserve energy as the higher price in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) increased residential power rates for July.

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) announced yesterday an upward adjustment of P6.5625 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) earlier reported an increase of P0.5825 and P1.3119 per kWh, respectively.

In its advisory, the management of Noneco, which covers local government units from E.B. Magalona town to San Carlos City up north, said that for July, its residential rate went up to P15.7927 per kWh from only P9.2302 per kWh in June.

“Billing rate is expected to increase this July due to the additional 25 percent for the June WESM bill deferred upon the order of the Energy Regulatory Commission with case number 2024-017-MC issued on June 13, 2024,” it added.

It noted that aside from the additional charge, the WESM market price also increased by P0.2741 per kWh in July.

“Noneco requests the member-consumer-owners to monitor their power consumption and conserve energy to avoid paying higher electricity bills,” the management said.

Ceneco, which serves consumers in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, and Silay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, reported this month’s rate at P13.3457 per kWh, from P12.7632 per kWh in June.

“We continue to remind electricity consumers to conserve energy to avoid paying high electricity bills,” its board and management said in an advisory.

Noceco, with a coverage area from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an in southern Negros, announced a residential rate of P16.1134 per kWh in July, from only P14.8015 in June. (PNA)