Residential consumers in Negros Occidental are expected to pay lower power rates as two electric cooperatives availed of reduced prices from the suppliers and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in June.

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) announced a downward adjustment of P0.5673 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to P12.7225 per kWh this month, from P13.2898 per kWh in May.

“The decrease is a result of the reduction in the price of electricity purchased in the WESM. The fluctuation of foreign exchange rates and fuel cost of our power suppliers is also one of the reasons for the lower electricity prices,” Noneco said in a statement.

It said only 12.66 percent of the total rate in June went to Noneco in the form of distribution, supply and metering charges, amounting to P1.6109 per kWh, which has remained unchanged since February 2010.

“The DSM charges are used for maintenance, construction, and administrative costs to sustain the daily operation of our cooperative,” it said.

The coverage area of Noneco includes the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Toboso and Calatrava, as well as the cities of Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos.

In southern Negros, the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) reported a reduction of P0.6152 per kWh — from P12.0262 per kWh in May to P11.4110 per kWh in June.

“The primary driver of this decrease is the reduced cost of power purchased from suppliers. Notably, the WESM saw a decrease of P0.9874 per kWh. This led to a substantial drop in the generation charge, now at P5.8665 per kWh, from the previous month’s P6.2267 per kWh,” the power cooperative said.

It added the transmission and systems loss charges also decreased in June.

Noceco serves consumers in the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, and Hinoba-an as well as in the cities of La Carlota, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and Sipalay. (PNA)