THE Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), which caters to the largest number of electric consumers in Negros Occidental, has announced a drop of P0.9207 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in its residential power rate this month.
From P11.1923 per kWh in May, its power rate went down to P10.2716 per kWh in June.
Ceneco, in an advisory, said the rate reduction is mainly attributed to the decrease in the fixed cost component of the power supply contract with Kepco Salcon Power Corporation (KSPC), as well as lower price in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
The cooperative that covers areas including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto was earlier slammed for allegedly imposing sudden increase in the electric bills of its member-consumers.
In May alone, the power distribution utility reported an increase of P0.53 per kWh compared to P10.6608 per kWh in April.
The increase is attributed to the upward movement in the generation, transmission and systems loss charges.
Ceneco said the generation, transmission and systems loss charges that comprise the biggest portion of the pass-through charges increased by P0.4850 per kWh.
"The generation and transmission charges are complete pass-through charges and Ceneco is just a collecting agent in behalf of the power suppliers and transmission service provider," it said, adding that the utility's revenue has remained consistent at P1.18 per kilowatt hour (kWh) since 2010.
Various labor and consumer groups, however, claimed that increases in the power rates including those during the "lockdown" period are arbitrary and unreasonable.
Thus, they are asking Ceneco to refund its consumers.
Also, they are not satisfied of the computation made by the utility as they claimed that even their bills have spiked to an "unbelievable" level.
Even the Bacolod City Council has expressed opposition to the power rate increase imposed by the cooperative.
Following a public hearing recently, Ceneco will conduct "re-reading" of electric meters for April electric bills particularly of those complaining about their bills during the quarantine period.
The cooperative, for its part, has clarified that its monthly power rates are computed in accordance with the approved guidelines of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Ceneco also explained that the rate increase in May that covers the energy consumption during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), or during portions of April and May, is mainly attributed to the reduction of total energy consumption during the period.