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Brix Lelis - The Philippine Star
March 11, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Amid surging fuel prices, households served by power utility Meralco will see their bills rise this month by P0.6427 per kilowatt-hour – but not yet because of the crisis in the Middle East.
The adjustment brings the overall rate for a typical household to P13.8161 per kWh in March from P13.1734 per kWh in February, an additional charge of about P129 for residential customers consuming 200 kWh.
At yesterday’s press conference, Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga attributed the rate hike to higher transmission and generation charges.
Due to a spike in ancillary service fees, the transmission charge covering the cost of transporting electricity from power plants to Meralco’s distribution network went up by P0.288 per kWh.
Procured by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, ancillary services help maintain the stability and reliability of the country’s electrical superhighway.
The generation charge, meanwhile, rose by P0.2209 per kWh due to higher costs of power purchased by Meralco from suppliers.
Pass-through charges for generation and transmission are paid to power producers and the grid operator, respectively.
Other charges that include taxes, which are remitted to the government, increased by P0.1338 per kWh.
The distribution charge, the only portion that goes to Meralco, has not changed since the P0.036-per-kWh reduction in August 2022.
Zaldarriaga said this month’s rate adjustment does not yet reflect the impact of Middle East tensions, as charges only cover supply from February billings.
Meralco head of utility economics Larry Fernandez has warned that rising fuel prices caused by the war may hit consumer bills next month.
Fluctuations in the peso against the greenback may also affect electricity rates next month, as some power supply contracts are priced in dollars, Fernandez said.
Amid the Middle East war and the approaching dry season when demand for electricity traditionally peaks, Meralco has encouraged customers to practice energy efficiency to better manage consumption.
