IN CASE you’re wondering what in the world does this title mean, really simple, my dear. It means ALL MORE Power customers are entitled to this lower billing rate due to the deferment of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) portion of the generation charge in compliance with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Order dated June 13, 2024, in ERC Case No. 2024-017-MC.
Simply put, the average electricity rate for the June 2024 billing month is P8.7749/kWh, a huge difference from the previous rate from May 18, 2024, to June 12, 2024, which is P11.3263/kWh.
This lower rate, is effective for bills received from June 18, 2024 to July 12, 2024, and it aims to ease the impact of high electricity bills due to increased WESM generation charges.
Because of this deferment, a portion of the WESM generation cost will be added to the July, August, and September 2024 bills. As a result, customers can expect a slight rate increase in those billing months.
Sort of softening the blow before it hits you or something like giving the good news first before the bad news.
For the convenience of ALL customers, visiting the MORE Power office to apply or request the four-month installment plan is no longer necessary. Instead, the lower rate for the June billing will be implemented automatically, and the remaining deferred generation charge will apply automatically to the next three succeeding months.
Not to worry though as despite this slight hiccup in our electric bill in the coming months mentioned, MORE Power’s rate still remains to be one if not the lowest in the region.
Moving on, still more good news…
As MORE Power approaches its fifth year of rehabilitation activities since it started operations in 2020, the duration of scheduled power interruptions on weekends will be reduced from 12-13 hours to 8 hours.
MORE Power Network Development and Operations Group VP Bernard Del Castillo said the remaining rehabilitation work can now be completed within a maximum of 8 hours on weekends, sparing consumers from experiencing half a day of power interruptions.
“We understand the inconvenience that our consumers have faced with 12- to 13-hour power interruptions almost every week. That’s why, starting July 2024, we will shorten the duration of scheduled power interruptions.”
Del Castillo also assured customers that they will be informed three to four days in advance of any scheduled power interruptions to allow for adequate preparation.
Take note that the rehabilitation of facilities to modernize the power grid cannot be done overnight and has taken years to achieve significant progress. When MORE Power took over, almost all of the electrical facilities throughout the city were either defective or obsolete, requiring the replacement of nearly everything. Although preparatory work through live line method without interruptions are done on weekdays, there is a need to shut off power on weekends to remove dilapidated post and to finalize the setup and ensure the linemen’s safety.
As “I Am Iloilo City’s” sole power distribution utility, MORE Power invests heavily in infrastructure upgrades improving distribution services and drive progress in the city. This includes the 33MVA Diversion Substation, the 30/36 MVA Megaworld Substation, 10/12.4 MVA and 30/36 MVA mobile substations which serve as temporary backups during the total rehabilitation of land-based substations.
MORE Power replaced/installed over 7,000 poles, 45 automatic circuit reclosers and 22 load break switches to isolate and immediately restore power during power interruptions, purchased modern testing equipment, and currently working on the underground distribution system along Calle Real. Approximately 50 circuit kilometers of lines were replaced/reconductored with tree wire from 2022 till June 2024. These tree wires are insulated primary lines designed to prevent power interruptions caused by animal intrusion and vegetation.
Well played indeed, Nong Moroy./PN
