CUSTOMERS of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has been notified of a possible power rate hike this month following the hike in fuel prices in the consecutive weeks.
Meralco vice president for corporate communications and spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga , said they are still waiting for the final billings from their suppliers, which could push the rates up.
“We are still waiting for all the final billings from our suppliers to come in pero base sa initial indications, pagkatapos ng dalawang magkasunod na buwan ng bawas-singil ay posibleng magkaroon ng pagtaas sa bills ngayong Marso,” he said.
Meralco said it will announce on Thursday its rate adjustment.
Zaldarriaga said they also expect an increase in generation charge as the price remains high in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
“We expect na mas mataas ang generation charge ngayong billing period dahil nanatiling mataas ang presyuhan sa Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Dahil sa scheduled maintenance ng Quezon Power at San Lorenzo plants, mas maraming kinuhang supply ang Meralco sa merkado,” he said.
(We expect the generation charge to be higher this billing period because the price remains high in the WESM. Due to the scheduled maintenance of the Quezon Power and San Lorenzo plants, Meralco has secured more supplies from the market.)
“Apektado rin ang generation charge ng patuloy na paghina ng piso kontra dolyar,” he added.
Motorists may face an even more massive round of price increases in the coming week after fuel prices rose to its biggest hike so far this year on Tuesday.
metrosundaily
