Business World Online
Posted on November 09, 2011 11:22:11 PM
CONSUMERS will have to pay more for electricity this month with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announcing a P0.44 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) generation charge increase.
The hike in the November generation charge to P5.79/kWh was “mainly due to a surge in prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM),” the utility said in a statement.
Meralco last month also increased the generation charge by P0.09/kWh.
WESM prices were said to have increased because of a supply ply tightness, caused by the shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas pipeline from Oct. 20-26 for maintenance.
“The... shutdown affected the operation of large power plants dependent on Malampaya for fuel. The Ilijan power plant, with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, was completely unavailable as a result. To compensate for the lost capacity, coal and oil-based generation was resorted to by the grid,” Meralco said.
WESM prices increased to P11.57/kWh from P8.19/kWh in the previous month, it said.
The utility said it sourced 47.9% of its energy needs from IPPs, 41.5% from National Power Corp. and 10.6% from the WESM.
The generation charge increase means consumers who use 100 kWh per month will see their bills go up by P44. Those consuming 200 kWh/month will see an increase of P88, while those using 300 kWh will see P132 added to their electricity bills. -- ENJD
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