UNLIKE two other power distribution utilities in the province, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) has reported an increase in its power rate this month.
Ceneco, which caters to the largest number of electric consumers in Negros Occidental including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto, announced a P0.53 per kilowatt hour (kWh) increase.
From P10.6608 per kWh in April, it went up to P11.1923 in May.
Officer-in-charge General Manager Jose Taniongon, in an advisory, said the increase is attributed to upward movement in the generation, transition and systems loss charges.
Taniongon said generation, transmission and systems loss charges, which comprise the biggest portion of the pass-through charges, increased by P0.4850 per kWh.
From P7.8359 per kWh in April, it moved up to P8.3209 per kWh this month.
"The pass-through charges equivalent to P10.0057 per kWh of the total power rate also includes the Energy Regulatory Commission-approved adjustments, government subsidies and taxes," he said.
Only P0.1866 per kWh of the power rate goes to Ceneco through Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) charges and Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures for its administrative and operational services, the official added.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) and Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) announced a lower power rate for this month.
Noneco, which caters to consumers in the north portion of the province, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City, reported a decrease of P0.6240 per kWh in its May billing.
The cooperative’s power rate dropped from P10.7937 per kWh in April to P10.1698 per kWh this month.
Noceco that caters to consumers in the south, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an, announced that its power rate for May is P8.5426 per kWh.
The figure is P0.5139 lower compared to its rate of P9.0565 per kWh in April.
The decrease is attributed to lower generation cost due to lower Wholesale Electricity Spot Market price.
Other factors are decreases in transmission and systems loss charges.