By Donnabelle Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated October 09, 2012 12:00
MANILA, Philippines - Electricity rates of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) slightly increased this month by 12 centavos per kilowatt-hour due to higher generation cost, transmission, and other pass through costs, the company announced yesterday.
For generation charge alone, it increased by 10 centavos per kwh, from P5.40 per kwh in September to P5.50 this month.
The increase was attributed to higher charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), where electricity is being traded daily, which went up by P1.16 per kwh.
Meralco said there was an increase in consumption in October following a relatively depressed demand for power in September due to rainy and cold weather.
It was also noted that there was a reduction in available generation capacity and the output of coal-fired plants was restricted due to repairs and maintenance. These eventually led to increases in WESM prices.
WESM, in a separate report, said “tighter power supply conditions were observed in the first week of October in comparison with the previous week, reflecting under-generation and load shedding conditions more frequently, particularly from Sept. 24 to 27.”
“It was largely because of the unavailability of major generating units, such as Sual 1 (647 MW, on maintenance outage since Sept. 13, 2012), Sual 2 (647 MW, on emergency shutdown because of boiler tube leak from Sept. 23 to 27, 2012), and Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. (on emergency shutdown because of valve leak from Sept. 24 to 25, 2012),” the WESM said.
The higher WESM charges were partly offset by lower prices from independent power producers (IPPs), whose rates decreased by 9 centavos per kwh, and the National Power Corp. (Napocor), which registered a decrease of 22 centavos per kwh.
WESM, IPPs, and Napocor contributed 6.9, 44.1, and 49 percent, respectively, to Meralco’s power supply requirements for the supply month of September.
The transmission charge also went up by four centavos per kwh due mainly to higher ancillary generation costs, which are affected by WESM charges.
With the higher generation and transmission charges, the system loss charge similarly increased, by two centavos per kwh.
Meralco reiterated that it does not earn from the generation and other pass-through charges. Payment for the generation charge, a pass-through cost for Meralco, goes to the power producers such as Napocor, the IPPs and WESM.
Meanwhile, the transmission and system loss charges go to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and generating companies.
Meralco charges only account for about 16 percent of the total electricity bill. The rest of the pass-through costs include taxes, subsidies, and other charges. source
For generation charge alone, it increased by 10 centavos per kwh, from P5.40 per kwh in September to P5.50 this month.
The increase was attributed to higher charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), where electricity is being traded daily, which went up by P1.16 per kwh.
Meralco said there was an increase in consumption in October following a relatively depressed demand for power in September due to rainy and cold weather.
It was also noted that there was a reduction in available generation capacity and the output of coal-fired plants was restricted due to repairs and maintenance. These eventually led to increases in WESM prices.
WESM, in a separate report, said “tighter power supply conditions were observed in the first week of October in comparison with the previous week, reflecting under-generation and load shedding conditions more frequently, particularly from Sept. 24 to 27.”
“It was largely because of the unavailability of major generating units, such as Sual 1 (647 MW, on maintenance outage since Sept. 13, 2012), Sual 2 (647 MW, on emergency shutdown because of boiler tube leak from Sept. 23 to 27, 2012), and Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. (on emergency shutdown because of valve leak from Sept. 24 to 25, 2012),” the WESM said.
The higher WESM charges were partly offset by lower prices from independent power producers (IPPs), whose rates decreased by 9 centavos per kwh, and the National Power Corp. (Napocor), which registered a decrease of 22 centavos per kwh.
WESM, IPPs, and Napocor contributed 6.9, 44.1, and 49 percent, respectively, to Meralco’s power supply requirements for the supply month of September.
The transmission charge also went up by four centavos per kwh due mainly to higher ancillary generation costs, which are affected by WESM charges.
With the higher generation and transmission charges, the system loss charge similarly increased, by two centavos per kwh.
Meralco reiterated that it does not earn from the generation and other pass-through charges. Payment for the generation charge, a pass-through cost for Meralco, goes to the power producers such as Napocor, the IPPs and WESM.
Meanwhile, the transmission and system loss charges go to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and generating companies.
Meralco charges only account for about 16 percent of the total electricity bill. The rest of the pass-through costs include taxes, subsidies, and other charges. source
No comments:
Post a Comment