Meralco: almost P400 cheaper June bill for some after staggered recovery order

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) customers will experience lower June electricity rates — not higher, as earlier announced — after the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) directive to stagger the collection of Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) generation costs.

In a press statement Sunday morning, the country’s largest power retailer said the ERC's June 13 order mandates that distribution utilities and electric cooperatives, including Meralco, spread the May WESM charges over four monthly installments, starting in June and continuing until September 2024.

Consequently, Meralco’s June electricity rate will decrease by P1.9623 per kWh, reversing the expected P0.6436 per kWh increase.

This adjustment lowers the overall rate for a typical household to P9.4516 per kWh, down from P11.4139 per kWh.

For residential customers consuming 200 kWh, this results in a reduction of approximately P392 on their total bill.

Despite the relief in June, Meralco customers should prepare for higher generation charges in the coming months as deferred costs are gradually added back, the company said.