ILOILO City – Consumers in Iloilo City and Central Negros will experience lower electricity bills this March as MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and Negros Power announced rate reductions, bringing much-needed financial relief to households and businesses.
MORE Power cuts rates by ₱0.7836 per kWh
MORE Power’s residential electricity rate for March 2025 stands at ₱10.4177 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), reflecting a significant ₱0.7836 per kWh decrease from February.
The drop is primarily due to lower generation and transmission charges, made possible by the company’s strategic energy procurement practices. MORE Power has maximized its power purchases from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which now accounts for 57.5% of its generation mix.
“This strategic approach allows us to secure more competitive power rates while ensuring reliability,” MORE Power stated.
The lower rates will translate into tangible savings for Iloilo City consumers. Households with an average monthly consumption of 200 kWh can expect to save approximately ₱156 on their electricity bills.
“We are committed to providing our customers with the most affordable and reliable electricity possible,” MORE Power said. “This rate reduction is a direct result of our strategic procurement practices and our commitment to delivering value to our consumers.”
Negros Power lowers rates by ₱0.6711 per kWh
Meanwhile, Negros Power announced a ₱0.6711 per kWh decrease in residential electricity rates, bringing the new average cost to ₱11.4766 per kWh, down from ₱12.1477 per kWh in February.
The reduction is attributed to lower generation and transmission costs, driven by:
* a temporary baseload discount of ₱0.15 per kWh from Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI);
* a slight decrease in Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA) rates, from ₱6.1635 to ₱6.1368 per kWh;
* significantly lower WESM prices, reducing costs by ₱0.5142 per kWh; and
* reduced transmission charges, with ancillary service expenses cut by ₱273.8091 per kWh.
However, Negros Power customers will see a slight increase in the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-ALL) rate, which has gone up from ₱0.0838 to ₱0.1189 per kWh, following an Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) resolution (Case No. 2023-096 RC, dated Feb. 19, 2025).
Despite the slight FIT-ALL adjustment in Negros, the overall decrease in electricity rates is expected to provide direct financial relief to consumers.
With both utilities implementing rate reductions, Iloilo City and Central Negros consumers can expect lower electricity bills this month, reflecting a more favorable power market and improved sourcing strategies that prioritize affordability and reliability./PN
