Electric consumers in the southern portion of the province may incur higher bills this month as the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) has increased its power rate by P0.0533 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Noceco general manager Jonas Discaya told SunStar Bacolod yesterday, July 17, that from P11.1952 per kWh last month, July's rate of the power distribution utility increased to P11.2485 per kWh.

Discaya said the upward adjustment is mainly attributed to higher cost of energy from the Wholesale Energy Spot Market (WESM), which the cooperative is obtaining a portion of its power supply.

In June, Noceco, which caters to consumers from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an, has noted an increase of P0.16 per kWh.

The power rate in May was only P11.0306 per kWh.

Like the two other power distribution utilities in the province, Noceco obtained such increase through the additional feed-in-tariff allowance (FIT-ALL) on top of other factors including higher transmission, universal charges, and value-added tax.

“Consumers are urged to reduce their electricity consumption in order to avoid incurring higher bills. They are advised to only use their appliances when needed,” he added.

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), catering to consumers in the north, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City, is also projecting a “minimal” increase in its power rate this month.

This might have resulted from movements in the transmission charge and WESM cost, Noneco Corporate Planning head Paulino Almedelia also told SunStar Bacolod yesterday.

Last month, the cooperative implemented an increase of P0.13 per kWh. From P11.6564 per kWh in May, it went up to P11.7876 per kWh in June.

Aside from the additional FIT-ALL of P0.0733 per kWh, there was also an increase of P0.0866 per kWh in transmission charge.

The remaining portion of the province, the largest number of consumers, is catered to by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).

Ceneco has yet to announce its power rate for July, but increased by P0.52 per kWh last month.