TWO electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental have noted a decrease in their respective power rates this month.
The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), catering to consumers in the southern part of the province, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an, reported that its August rate is P8.6222 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
The figure is lower by P0.5395 per kWh compared to the previous month's rate of P9.1617 per kWh.
Noceco general manager Jonas Discaya, in an advisory, said the main driver of the lower electricity rate this month is the P0.4841 per kWh decrease in the generation charge.
The cooperative's generation charge moved from P4.6042 per kWh to P4.1201 per kWh.
Discaya said there's also a reduction of P1.1538 per kWh from Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Wesm).
The current average price of Wesm is P2.3850 per kWh, lower compared to its previous month cost of P3.5388 per kWh.
The power distribution utility (DU) further reported a decrease in its power supply agreements (PSAs) with various power generators.
There's a price drop of P0.0147 per kWh in its PSA with Palm Concepcion Power Corporation, and another P0.1627 per kWh with Kepco Salcon Power Corporation.
Other factors contributing to the overall reduction in rates included value-added tax (VAT) in generation rate of P0.0424 per kWh and systems loss rate of P0.1095 per kWh.
The overall rate decreased despite the increase in the transmission rate of residential customers, at P0.0855 per kWh; VAT on transmission rate - P0.0069 per kWh; and subsidy rates - P0.0041 per kWh.
"Noceco's distribution, supply and metering charges remain unchanged despite the reduction in the overall electricity rate for this month," he added.
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), which caters to consumers in the north, from E.B Magalona to San Carlos City, also reported a decrease of P0.2180 per kWh in its power rate this month.
From P9.9791 per kWh in July, it dropped to P9.7611 per kWh in August.
Its corporate planning manager Paulino Almedelia said the drop is attributed to the decrease of P0.2495 per kWh in generation charge and P0.0123 per kWh in other charges like VAT.
Although there's a slight increase of P0.0438 per kWh in transmission and systems loss charges, he added.
For the remaining electric consumers in cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto, meanwhile, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) reported a slight increase of P0.0486 per kWh.
From P10.5943 per kWh in July, its prevailing rate went up to P10.6429 per kWh.
Ceneco, in an advisory, said the increase is attributed to upward movement on the generation, transmission and systems loss charges.
It noted an increase of P0.0245 per kWh in these charges, which move from P7.7652 to P7.7897 per kWh.
The amount comprises the biggest part of the pass-through charges amounting to P9.4563 per kWh, it added.