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If you noticed a slight jump in your electricity bill this month, you’re not alone. Meralco has announced a PHP0.28 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in power rates for February. This means electricity rates are now at PHP12.0262 per kWh, up from January’s PHP11.748 per kWh.

So, what does this mean for your bill? Well, if you’re a typical household consuming 200 kWh per month, expect to pay around PHP57 more in your total bill.

Why the Increase?

The main culprit? Higher generation charges—these went up by PHP0.3845 per kWh. Meralco explains that costs from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) have gone up, pushing the overall generation rate higher.

On the bright side, lower rates from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) helped ease what could have been an even bigger increase.

For context, Meralco sources its power from different suppliers:

• IPPs (29%)

• PSAs (43%)

• WESM (28%)

While this price hike may not be welcome news, it’s always good to stay informed so you can manage your electricity consumption wisely. If you're looking for ways to save on your power bill, now might be the perfect time to unplug unused appliances and switch to energy-efficient options.