(PNA Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY – Residential power rate in Bacolod City and its neighboring five cities and municipalities dropped in May as a result of a reduction in various charges.
In an advisory posted on Friday, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) said the current billing rate has been pegged at PHP11.14 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), lower by PHP0.29 compared to the previous month’s rate of PHP11.43 per kWh.
Ervin Stan Leo Ticar, acting general manager, said there is a net reduction in generation, transmission, and system loss charges as well as in other pass-through charges.
He noted that only PHP1.186 per kWh of the power rate goes to Ceneco through distribution, supply, and metering charges (DSM), and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditures (RFSC) for its administrative and operational services.
Both the DSM and RFSC rates have not increased since 2010.
Ticar said since only 10 to 14 percent of the total bill amount goes to Ceneco, consumers should focus on the kilowatt-hour consumption and not on the bill amount, which varies depending on the pass-through charges.
He advised consumers to conserve energy to avoid paying high electricity bills even as the world market fuel prices remain volatile and may affect the electricity rates.
Aside from Bacolod, the Ceneco service area includes the cities of Bago, Talisay, and Silay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. (PNA)
