CEBECO consumers to pay higher rate

CEBU, Philippines — Consumers served by Cebu’s three electric cooperatives will pay higher electricity rates for the June 2026 billing period due to higher generation charges, rising prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), and tight power supply in the Visayas Grid.

CEBECO I announced that residential consumers using 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will pay P13.96 per kWh for the June billing period, up by P2.74 per kWh from the May 2026 rate.

The cooperative said the largest contributor to the increase was the generation charge, which climbed by P2.56 per kWh to P7.89 per kWh. Other components of the electricity bill include P1.26 for transmission, P0.99 for system loss, P1.66 for distribution, supply and metering, P0.36 for the Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capex, and P1.80 for government charges.

According to CEBECO I, higher fuel prices brought about by geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel pushed up the operating costs of power plants. It also cited the higher cost of electricity purchased through the WESM, where prices rise when more expensive power plants are dispatched to meet demand.

The cooperative added that scheduled maintenance shutdowns and forced outages of power plants reduced available electricity supply, while higher demand during the summer further strained the Visayas Grid. These conditions prompted the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to implement Manual Load Dropping and rotational brownouts during yellow and red alert periods.

CEBECO I emphasized that it has no control over generation charges, explaining that these are pass-through costs collected from consumers and remitted to power generation companies and the WESM in accordance with regulations of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). It also noted that its distribution, supply and metering charge of P1.66 per kWh has remained unchanged since 2010.

Meanwhile, CEBECO II also announced higher electricity rates for June, saying its generation charge increased from P5.46 per kWh in May to P7.88 per kWh in June, making it the primary factor behind the increase in consumers' electricity bills.

For its part, CEBECO III said residential consumers using 100 kWh per month will pay an effective electricity rate of P11.79 per kWh, up by P1.29 per kWh from the May billing period. The adjustment translates to an additional P129 in the monthly bill of a household consuming 100 kWh.

The cooperative said its distribution charge remains unchanged at P1.51 per kWh, but generation costs increased because of higher electricity demand across the Visayas Grid, resulting in Yellow and Red Alerts that reduced available power reserves.

CEBECO III said the supply shortage forced power generators to procure more expensive replacement power, leading to higher generation charges, increased WESM prices and higher costs from power suppliers. It also encouraged consumers to continue practicing energy conservation to help reduce electricity consumption and lower their monthly bills.

CEBECO I serves 18 local government units in southern Cebu, covering Carcar City and the municipalities of Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander, Oslob, Boljoon, Alcoy, Dalaguete, Argao and Sibonga.

CEBECO II provides electricity services to 13 local government units in northern Cebu, including the cities of Bogo and Danao and the municipalities of Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan and Tuburan.

CEBECO III serves the western portion of Cebu Province, including Toledo City and the municipalities of Aloguinsan, Asturias and Balamban, as well as selected barangays in Cebu City, Talisay City and Minglanilla. — (FREEMAN)