The Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. said yesterday that the average residential rate for the billing month of May is P11.0612 per kilowatt-hour, or a decrease of P0.0741/kWh, from last month’s rate of P11.1353/kWh.
The P0.0741/kWh rate decrease can be attributed to the reduction in generation, transmission, system loss charges and other pass-through charges, such as lifeline and senior citizens discount, Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism-Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment or Gram Icera adjustment, and value-added tax.
Danny Pondevilla, project supervisor/acting general manager of Ceneco, said in a press release yesterday that the pass-through charges, equivalent to P9.8746/kWh of the total power rate, include the Generation and Transmission charges, ERC-approved adjustments, government subsidies and taxes.
“Only P1.1866/kWh of the power rate goes to Ceneco through Distribution, Supply, Metering Charges and Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capex for its administrative and operational services,” Pondevilla said, adding that since 2010, the coop’s DSM and RFSC rates had not increased.
In monitoring the monthly electricity usage, consumers are advised to look at their kilowatt-hour consumption and not the amount as this may vary depending on the pass-through charges.
He also reminded consumers to conserve energy to avoid paying high electricity bills.
Meanwhile, some personnel of Ceneco also joined the Black Friday protest, saying that they stand with the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association in the battle against injustices and unfair treatment of electric cooperatives.
The Black Friday Protest started May 14 in ECs all over the country, to call for unity for EC independence, support against privatization, and in facing the challenges of the rural electrification movement.
“It is a manifestation of the stand of all ECs in defending the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative against the initiative of some that it would be taken over by a private distribution utility, in protecting the ECs in Negros Island which franchises are being applied by private DU, and in supporting the Benguet Electric Cooperative in its call relative to the selection of its general manager,” the press release added.*