Power rates charged by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) on the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) within its franchise area slightly increased by P0.0006 per kilowatt-hour this April billing period compared to the power rates during the previous billing period last March.
Based on the date obtained from BENECO under the able leadership of Acting General Manager Engr. Ramel Rifani, residential power rates for April was computed to be at P10.1109/kwh compared to last month’s power rates of P10.1103/kwh because of the increase in the slight increases in the generation and transmission charges.
Under the present billing period, the generation charge passed on to BENECO by its power supplier is P5.7296/kwh compared to last month’s P5.7295/kwh.
Further, April’s transmission charges which is also passed on to BENECO by the National Grid Corporation (NGCP) is P0.8119/kwh compared to last month’s transmission charge of P0.7630/kwh or an increase of P0.0489/kwh.
However, BENECO’s systems loss charges for the present billing period which is P0.6949/kwh dropped by P0.0238/kwh compared to last month’s systems loss which was P0.7187/kwh.
Commercial low voltage, industrial, public building low voltage and streetlights increased by P0.0196/kwh during the present billing period compared to the previous billing period while commercial high volte and public building high voltage rates increased by P0.0422/kwh during the present billing period.
Commercial low voltage rate for April is P9.3895/kwh compared to last month’s P9.3699/kwh.
Moreover, the industrial rate for April is P9.3582/kwh compared to the P9.3386/kwh for the previous billing period.
Public building low voltage rate for the present billing period is P9.3618/kwh compared to the previous billing period last March which was P9.3422/kwh.
For streetlights, the rate for the April billing period is P9.3895/kwh compared to the previous billing period of P9.3699/kwh.
On the other hand, commercial high voltage rate for April is P7.8595/kwh compared to the previous billing period of P7.9017/kwh while public building high voltage rate in ‘April is P7.8317/kwh compared to last month’s P7.8739/kwh.
The slight increase in power rates was the first increase that will be recorded by BENECO for this year after the power rates successively dropped during the first quarter of the year.
Despite being downgraded to a Class C rural electric cooperative from its previous status as a class AAA cooperative, BENECO was able to maintain its cheap power rates that are much lower compared to other electric cooperatives and private distribution utilities that have larger numbers of consumers and wider area of coverage.
Prior to the downgrading of its status, BENECO served as a benchmark on the operation of electric cooperatives in the country having set the standards for the administration, management and operation of an electric cooperative having to provide power supply to non-viable communities within its franchise area.