LIKE those of Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), electric consumers of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) may also incur higher bills this month as the power distribution utility reported an increase in its rate.
From P11.5618 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in April, the rate for May is P11.8416 per kWh or an upward adjustment of P0.2799 per kWh.
The cooperative caters to consumers in the northern portion of the province, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City.
Paulino Almedelia, corporate planning manager of Noneco, said the increase is attributed to higher generation cost.
Almedelia said the generation cost increased by P0.4525 per kWh due to higher price at Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Though, there was a decrease of P0.1106 per kWh in transmission cost.
Also, a total reduction of P0.062 per kWh in other charges like value added tax (VAT) and lifeline rate subsidy was noted, he added.
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), which caters to the largest number of consumers in the province, meanwhile, announced a decrease of about P0.07 per kWh.
The utility covers cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
From last month’s residential rate of P11.1044 per kWh, it moved down to P11.0280 per kWh in May or a drop of P0.0764 per kWh.
Ceneco noted a combined generation, transmission and systems loss charges of P8.0139 per kWh.
This bulk portion of the pass-through charges comprises almost 72.7 percent of the total power rate.
The universal charges, feed-in tariff, lifeline and senior citizen subsidies, VAT and various adjustments account for the remaining 16.5 percent of the pass-through charges.
The remaining P1.1866 per kWh or 10.76 percent accounts for the distribution, supply and metering (DSM) and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditures (RFSC).
Jose Taniongon, officer-in-charge general manager of Ceneco, said the cooperative's DSM and RFSC rates have not increased since 2010.
Taniongon said in monitoring the monthly electricity usage, consumers are advised to look at their kilowatt hour consumption and not the amount as it may vary depending on the pass-through charges.
“Despite the decrease for this month's billing, the cooperative continues to remind its electricity consumers to conserve energy to avoid paying high electricity bills,” he added.
Earlier, Noceco announced another round of increase in its residential power rate.
From P11.1490 per kWh in April, the cooperative's rate moved up to P12.2135 per kWh this month or an adjustment of P1.0645 per kWh.
The higher rate is mainly attributed to the increase in generation charge, particularly due to higher WESM prices.
The power distribution utility caters to the remaining consumers in the south, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an.