THE Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) has announced a decrease of P0.57 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in its power rate this month.
From almost P16.57 per kWh last month, its residential rate for August 2022 went down to P15.99 per kWh.
The power distribution utility, in a statement Tuesday, August 23, 2022, said the decrease can be attributed mainly to the reduction in generation cost of one of the generators supplying power to Noneco.
Only P1.6109 per kWh of power rate goes to Noneco through Distribution, Supply, Metering (DSM) charges intended for the cooperative's Operation, Construction and Maintenance services, it said.
Since 2010, Noneco DSM rate has not increased, which was approved and based on Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Resolution No. 20, Series of 2009, it added.
Noneco said that for every kWh consumed by residential consumers, only about 14 to 16 percent of the total bill amount goes to the cooperative.
"Let us continue to be vigilant in checking our kWh meters against pilferage and illegal use of electricity (R.A 7832), and regularly observe energy saving in our homes," it added.
Noneco caters to electric consumers in the northern portion of the province, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City.
Earlier, the two other electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental announced that their residential rates for this month have increased by at least P1 per kWh.
Ervin Stan Leo Ticar, acting general manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative Ceneco, said their average residential rate for August is P15.4772 per kWh from last month's P14.1881 kWh.
Ticar said this can be attributed to the increase in generation, transmission and systems loss charges caused by the increase in Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC)'s fuel price which moved from P8.6583 to P9.5512 per kWh.
He said the rate increase was also triggered by the hike in the average Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price from P8.6583 to P9.4171 and the implementation of rate adjustments, and other pass-through charges.
Ticar noted that these passed-through charges pegged at P14.2908 kWh of the total power rate included the Lifeline and Senior citizens discount, generation rate adjustment mechanism and incremental currency exchange rate adjustment.
The Ceneco official said value-added tax also played a vital part in the electricity rate hike this month.
Ceneco caters to consumers in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay and towns of Don Salvador Benedicto and Murcia.
For the Nergos Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), its General Manager Ray Bustamante said the main driver of the higher electricity rates this month is the P0.85 per kWh increase in the generation charge, which moved from P9.4250 to P10.2844 per kWh.
Bustamante said the increase in the overall rates is also due to the higher power cost from the WESM and PCPC's fuel cost.
"Our exposure to the volatile spot market prices is expected to be lessened in the next billing period as the Kepco Salcon Power Corporation will start supplying Noceco with power from the Emergency Power Supply Agreement," he said.
Bustamante added that they would also like to inform their consumers from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an towns to expect an additional increase in the Universal Charge – Missionary Electrification rate by next billing period in compliance with an Energy Regulatory Commission ruling.
Noceco caters to the remaining cities and towns in the south, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an.