Residential power rates being charged by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) from its increasing number of member-consumer-owners (MCOs) for the present billing period of November has been upped following the increase in the transmission and systems loss charges.
The said increase will translate to some PhP41.39 for consumers having a monthly consumption of 100 kilowatts, PhP82.778 for those having a monthly consumption of 200 kilowatts and smore than PhP205 for those having a monthly power consumption of 500 kilowatts.
Based on the data obtained from BENECO, the residential power rate for November is PhP10.2105/kwh compared to the PhP10.0032/kwh charged to residential consumers in October.
The November transmission charge of the National Grid Corporation (NGCP) is PhP0.6149/kwh compared to the October rate of PhP0.4357/kwh or an increase of PhP0.1792/kwh.
Further, the systems loss charge of BENECO for the November billing is PhP0.5656/kwh compared to the recorded October systems loss of PhP0.5648/kwh or an increase of PhP0.0008/kwh.
BENECO’s commercial low voltage rate for November is PhP9.4219/kwh which is PhP0.2611/kwh higher compared to the October rate of PhP9.1608/kwh.
Industrial, public building low voltage and streetlights also recorded a similar PhP0.2611/kwh while the commercial high voltage and public building high voltage also increased by PhP0.0088/kwh and PhP0.0085/kwh.
Currently, BENECO still gets its power supply from the Sual-based TEAM Energy Corporation but its power supply agreement is set to expire in March 2024 that is why the electric cooperative is scheduling a competitive bidding to allow power suppliers to provide a god arrangement for the electric cooperative that will translate to cheap and quality power for the increasing number of consumers.
Republic Act (RA) 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) mandated the unbundling of power rates being charged by electric cooperatives and private distribution utility companies from their consumers to allow the people to appreciate the true value of power and for transparency purposes.
BENECO owns the distinction of having one of the lowest power rates among electric cooperatives and private distribution companies despite having to provide power to non-viable areas in most parts of Benguet.
