Average residential power rates of all three distribution utilities in Negros Occidental decreased by about P2 to P3 in August, separate reports showed yesterday.

The downward adjustments, which came after a series of increases in the past months, are mainly attributed to the reduction in generation rates due to lower prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

In a statement, the North Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) said this month, power cost is P13.79 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), lower by P1.99 compared to P15.79 per kWh in July.

“There’s a 12 percent reduction in August. This is due to the decrease in the WESM rate, from P9.2569 to P9.0412 per kWh or P0.2157,” it added.

Down south, the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) announced an August rate of P13.062 per kWh, from P16.1134 in July.

“The P3.0514 per kWh decrease in the total residential electricity rate is driven by the total generation charge which was reduced by P2.5705 per kWh from last month,” it said in a statement.

Noceco noted “the main factor in the decrease in generation charge is the P6.3907 per kWh reduction in the energy cost from WESM.”

In Bacolod and its neighboring areas, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) posted an average residential rate of P10.838 per kWh in August, from P13.345 in July.

Total generation charge dropped by 21.55 percent due to the decrease in the WESM price from P10.4293 to only P6.6063 per kWh, it said.

Also, the collection of additional universal charges for missionary electrification amounting to P0.0433 per kWh has ceased, based on the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. advisory effective August 2024 billing. (PNA)