Meralco increases electricity rates by P0.49 per kWh due to higher generation and transmission charges

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced on Friday that electricity rates will increase by P0.49 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in July due to higher generation and transmission charges.

The rate hike brings the overall household rate to P12.6435 per kWh, up from P12.1552 per kWh in June, affecting around eight million customers across Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

Higher fuel prices and a weaker Philippine peso contributed to the rise in generation charges by P0.3407/kWh, with Meralco attributing the increase specifically to the Iran-Israel conflict and depreciation of the local currency.

A typical household consuming 200 kWh will see an additional P98 on their electricity bill this month; a 300 kWh consumption would result in an increase of P146.

Despite these increases, Meralco noted that two consecutive rate cuts were implemented in previous billing cycles.