BAGUIO CITY – Member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) will be realizing adjustments in their power bills this month following the reported increase in the generation charge, one of the major pass-through charges of the rural electric cooperative, which is affected by outside factors beyond the control of the cooperative.
From the P7.1266/kilowatthour charge for residential consumers in November, the same will increase to P7.6311/kilowatthour in December or an adjustment of more than P0.51/kwh primarily because of the increase in the generation charge being collected for the power generator.
Based on the unbundled power rates, the generation charge for November was P3.4461/kwh compared to the P3.8788/kwh in December.
Further, BENECO also reported slight adjustments in the systems loss charge for November and December after recording P0.3383/kwh last month compared to the P0.3722/kwh this month.
However, the transmission charge in November was P0.8089/kwh which is higher compared to the P0.7319/kwh reflected transmission charge this month which was already reflected in the power bills of the MCOs.
Low voltage commercial consumers will also experience adjustments in their monthly power bills as the charge for this month will be P6.8845/kwh compared to the P6.4088/kwh in November as reflected in their present and previous power bills.
Also realizing adjustments is the industrial power rate which for this month is recorded to be P6.8532/kwh compared to the P6.3775/kwh last month.
Charges for public buildings also increased this December which was pegged at P6.8568/kwh compared to the P6.3811/kwh in November and bills for streetlights also experienced adjustment where the charge for December was projected to be P6.8845/kwh compared to the P6.4088/kwh last month.
According to the monthly rate computation of BENECO, the high voltage commercial consumers will be billed P5.4450/kwh in December compared to the previous computation of PP4.8755/kwh.
For high voltage public buildings, the rate will be pegged at P5.4173/kwh in December compared to the P4.8478/kwh in November.
BENECO General Manager Engr. Melchor S. Licoben explained that the factors affecting the generation charge is already beyond the control of the rural electric cooperative as the same is dictated by the peso-dollar exchange rate, the prevailing prices of oil in the world market among others, thus, there are adjustments that are made every month because of the variance on the factors affecting the said charge.
He urged the MCOs to continue paying their computed power bills on time because of the extended grace period for them to settle their bills for the electric cooperative to be able to settle its bills with the generator and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP and other government regulatory agencies.
By HENT
