THE San Fernando Electric Light and Power Company (Sfelapco) said Thursday, July 8, that lower power rates are "possible" starting July this year.
During the Provincial Board committee hearing held at Heroes Hall in the City of San Fernando, Sfelapco Corporate Communications Officer Irwin Nucum said the increase on electricity rate is not isolated to their clienteles but is experienced by most power consumers across the country, as he shed light on the sudden increase on electricity rate experienced by its consumers.
He cited several possible reasons why most consumers experienced higher electricity bills in the past months, including the rise in demand of electric usage.
"Since it was summer season, most of us use our aircons and electric fans more frequently and at higher settings and such appliances greatly contribute on the rise of our electric bills," he said.
He said high weather causes appliances with compressors such as aircons and refrigerators to work harder to cope up with the temperature, thus consuming higher electricity.
"In May, our heat index 50°C and our daily average is around 36.8°C. Imagine that amount of work our appliances did to cool down the temperature inside our houses," he said.
Nucom also noted of the various factors that affect the overall electric bills such as generation charge and value of electricity on sport market, among others.
"The value on spot market and the generation is out of our control but we are proud to say that Sfelapcohas one of lowest generation charge among other power distributors in the country," he said.
Meanwhile, Nucum said consumers may expect lower electricity bills this coming July, as the rainy season approaches.
"As temperature starts to cool down, the demand for electricity also decreases so we can expect lower rates starting this July," he said.
For his part, Committee on Public Utilities Chairman Councilor Tino Dizon, who led the hearing, said that Sfelapco’s explanation shed light on several concerns raised by Fernandinos.
"We were able to understand better the situation but we are not stopping here. We have requested several documents from Sfelapco to prove that their rates are really not overboard," he said.
Dizon added that hearings involving utility companies in the city must be regularly conducted to monitor their rates and operations.
"It is only fit that we know, understand and are updated of their rates so we assured that we are paying only the right amount for their services," he said.