BACOLOD City – Average residential power cost in this city and its five neighboring localities has decreased for the fourth consecutive month since December, with the March billing rate reduced by P1.2040 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) said the decrease – from P14.8756 in February to P13.6716 per kWh this month – can be attributed to the decrease in fuel cost and extended discount of Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC), which has two power supply agreements with Ceneco.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who had earlier questioned the two different rates of the same power supplier in the November billing, welcomed the development yesterday.
“We have seen a constant decrease, I hope this keeps up,” he said.
He noted from a high of P16.2972 per kWh in November 2022, the residential power rate went down by P2.63 per kWh in March 2023.
In December, the decrease was P0.0966 per kWh to P16.20 from P16.2972 in November.
The power rate in January decreased by P1.0949 to P15.1057 per kWh.
Last month, the rate was pegged at P14.8756, with a reduction of P0.230 per kWh, from that in January.
The city mayor said that since October last year, he has been “actively pursuing ways on how to bring down electricity rates in the city”.
“(Last) January, I wrote to the Energy Regulatory Commission and Ceneco questioning the two different rates in November 2022 coming from one and the same power generator,” he added.
The mayor said “it’s worth looking into the possible abuse of power market, considering the big disparity in the two rates”.
This would “warrant a review by the ERC of the power supply agreements between CENECO with PCPC,” he said.
Aside from Bacolod, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, Ceneco’s coverage area includes the cities of Bago, Talisay and Silay as well the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. (PNA)/PN
