Visayan Electric, the country’s second-largest electric distribution utility, said electricity rates for June are expected to increase due to upward pressure on generation charges driven by tight supply conditions in the Visayas power grid.
The utility attributed the expected adjustment to constrained supply and higher demand in May, which triggered Yellow and Red Alert declarations in the Visayas Grid.
These conditions forced greater reliance on more expensive power sources and spot market purchases to maintain stable supply for consumers.
Visayan Electric also cited higher prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the continued depreciation of the Philippine peso against the US dollar, and rising global fuel prices as additional factors affecting generation costs.
The company said these external pressures have significantly influenced electricity procurement costs but stressed that it has taken steps to cushion the impact on consumers.
“Our primary focus during periods of market volatility is customer protection,” said Mark Anthony B. Kindica, Visayan Electric President and General Manager.
“While global fuel indices and grid alerts are beyond our control, we are working around the clock to aggressively manage what we can. Through disciplined power contract management, strategic supply allocation, and tight coordination with our generation partners, we have successfully absorbed and mitigated significant portions of the price spike so that it does not reach our consumers in full,” he added.
Visayan Electric encouraged consumers to adopt energy-saving practices to help manage electricity consumption amid higher rates, particularly during peak hours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Among the recommended measures are setting air conditioners to 25°C, cleaning appliance filters regularly, and unplugging unused electronics and chargers.
The utility said it remains committed to transparency and will continue coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to ensure reliable power supply in Metro Cebu.
Comments