By MAE SINGUAY
As power rates climb amid persistent supply constraints across the Visayas grid, Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) has appealed to consumers to conserve electricity.
Engineer Christian John Villena, Negros Power energy sourcing manager, urged households and businesses to adopt simple energy-saving practices to help cushion the impact of higher electricity rates that took effect on June 15.
“We appeal to consumers to help limit the impact of the increase by conserving energy and properly utilizing their electrical appliances,” Villena said.
He encouraged the public to practice basic energy-saving habits, such as turning off lights when not in use, and minimizing the use of air conditioners and electric fans whenever possible.
“With the rainy season bringing cooler temperatures, we hope consumers can take advantage of the weather and lessen their use of air conditioners and electric fans. These simple measures can help reduce electricity consumption and lower monthly bills,” he added.
Villena said the situation is not limited to Negros Power’s franchise area, noting that the entire Visayas is experiencing power supply constraints that have driven up electricity prices.
“This is not only a concern for Negros Power consumers. The entire Visayas area is experiencing insufficient power supply, which has contributed to the increase in electricity rates,” he said.
Negros Power implemented a new residential electricity rate of P13.8417 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the June 2026 billing cycle, up from P11.3808 per kWh in May.
This represents an increase of P2.4609 per kWh, the highest recorded so far this year.
Villena said the rate hike was largely driven by a series of Yellow and Red Alert declarations issued by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) over the Visayas grid starting May 12, 2026.
The alerts indicate insufficient power reserves and supply shortages, which led to higher prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and increased generation costs.
“The Yellow and Red Alert statuses issued by NGCP have led to power supply shortages in the grid, causing electricity generation costs to rise significantly,” Villena explained.
Data from Negros Power showed that generation charges posted the biggest increase, rising from P6.4385 per kWh in May to P8.6194 per kWh in June, or an increase of P2.1809 per kWh. System loss charges and taxes also increased, while transmission charges slightly declined.
The higher electricity rates are expected to affect residential, commercial and industrial consumers within Negros Power’s franchise area.
Households consuming 100 kWh, 200 kWh and 300 kWh are projected to pay about P246.09, P492.18 and P738.27 more, respectively, compared to the previous billing month.
Villena warned that electricity rates could increase further if power supply issues in the Visayas persist and no additional generating capacity comes online.
“If the supply situation remains unresolved, consumers may see another increase of around P3 to P4 per kilowatt-hour in the July 2026 billing cycle,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Negros Power reiterated its call for continued energy conservation as a practical way for consumers to manage rising electricity costs while the region works to stabilize power supply./MS, WDJ