Meralco anuncia aumentos de tarifas para abril de 2022

La Compañía Eléctrica de Manila (Meralco) ha anunciado que las tarifas para abril de 2022 han aumentado en 0,5363 PHP, pasando de 10,1830 PHP por kWh a 9,6467 PHP por kWh en marzo.

Meralco dijo que esto equivale a un aumento de alrededor de PHP 107 en la factura total de un cliente residencial que consume 200 kWh.

Para abril de 2022, el cargo por generación aumentó en ⟦0.3987⟧ PHP a ⟦5.8724⟧ PHP por kWh desde los ⟦5.4737⟧ PHP por kWh registrados el mes anterior debido a mayores cargos de productores de energía independientes (IPE) y el mercado de electricidad a la carta (MCAE).

"El aumento de la tarifa de generación de este mes habría sido significativamente más alto, pero Meralco coordinó con la Comisión Regulatoria de Energía (CRE) y con algunos de sus proveedores para retrasar nuevamente la recaudación de porciones de sus costos de generación para mitigar el impacto en las facturas de los clientes", dijo el abogado jefe de la Oficina de Gestión Regulatoria de Meralco, Atty. Jose Ronald V. Valles.

Valles said on top of the additional deferred generation charges from suppliers totaling around PHP 945 million, the ERC also directed Meralco to defer the collection of PHP 300 million generation costs, which further reduced this month’s generation rate by about 11 centavos per kWh.

All these charges will subsequently be billed on a staggered basis over the next three months, as ordered by the ERC.

Factors that affected the IPP charges were the scheduled maintenance of the Quezon Power plant that lasted until March 24, and the higher fuel costs of First Gas–Sta. Rita. The Malampaya facility’s continued failure to supply sufficient natural gas resulted in Sta. Rita utilizing more expensive liquid fuel to ensure continuous supply. Peso depreciation against the US dollar also contributed to the increase in IPP charges, since around 97% of these costs are dollar-denominated.

Also weighing on the generation charge were WESM prices, which remained elevated in March. The secondary price cap was imposed 4.49% of the time during the supply month amid tight supply conditions in the Luzon grid. Peak demand in Luzon rose by more than 1,500 megawatts (MW) with the onset of the dry season and increase in economic activity after Metro Manila and nearby other provinces were placed on less restrictive alert level beginning March. The higher demand and the maintenance shutdown of Quezon Power prompted Meralco to source additional supply from the WESM.

With the current situation, Meralco warned that generation rates are still expected to increase in the coming months.